Game summary: Too many turnovers as Auburn falls short to undefeated Gamecocks

The Auburn Tigers (7-6, 1-1) fought hard despite their lack of depth due to injuries, but in the end they turned the ball over too many times to upset the undefeated Gamecocks (14-0, 1-0) who beat the Tigers 81-69 Tuesday night.

Auburn turned the ball over a season-high 21 times to the defensive-minded Gamecocks in the loss, and got into too much foul trouble for a team with so many injuries.

Tyler Harris had another monster game as he led Auburn with 22 points and 6 rebounds. He hit his first nine shots and finished the game 10-13 from the field. Kareem Canty did his thing as usual putting up 21 points and passing out 5 assists.

Unfortunately, no one else on the Auburn team was able to get much done on offense. Bryce Brown finished with 11 points, but he was only 3-10 from the field. Cinmeon Bowers scored just 3 points and was 1-7 shooting.

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Canty got the scoring started in the first half with a three to give Auburn an early 3-0 lead. They kept that advantage for the first couple of minutes, but early fouled trouble allowed South Carolina to get back in the game and they led 11-9 at the first media timeout.

The Gamecocks built on that momentum and went on a 12-0 run over the next three-plus minutes to take an 18-9 lead. A couple of free throws by Bryce Brown stopped the streak and made it 18-11 at the under 12 timeout.

Coming out of the break Auburn turned the ball over on three straight possessions and South Carolina extended their lead to 22-11 until a Canty three and a two by Harris cut the lead to six points; however, the Gamecocks got it right back and were up by 11 at the 7:54 mark.

South Carolina started taking advantage of all of the Auburn turnovers and led by as much as 18 in the first half, but a 5-0 run by Auburn to end the half made it 43-30 at the break.

Harris led Auburn with 13 points in the first half, while Canty had 10. The Tigers held their own on the boards in the first half, but the Gamecocks still held an 18-16 advantage in rebounds. The biggest factor in the first half was the 15 Auburn turnovers that led to 23 South Carolina points.

A Granger three around the 17 minute mark of the second half brought Auburn to within nine points, but yet again South Carolina went on another run and were up 54-41 by the under 16 timeout.

Auburn got within nine again as Brown hit a three-pointer at the 15 minute mark making the score 54-45. But then South Carolina went on another run and stretched their lead out to 14, but Harris scored six straight Auburn points to get the Tigers back within eight at the 11:39 mark.

Coming out of the timeout Brown hit a huge three-pointer that brought Auburn to within five points at 59-54. The South Carolina lead was just eight at the 7:10 mark of the second half as Canty got going and scored three straight points for Auburn.

The Gamecocks went on another one of their runs, but a three by Canty and a slam by Spencer had Auburn within 10, 72-62, at the under 4 timeout. However, that’s as close as they would get as the Gamecocks put the game away down the stretch.

Auburn will hit the road for the first time in SEC play as they take on Missouri (7-6) at 8 p.m. Central on ESPN2 this Saturday, January 9.