It was a tough weekend for the Auburn basketball program. The No. 1 Tigers hosted the No. 6 Florida Gators in Neville Arena for another ranked matchup on the Plains. Unfortunately, this one did not turn out in Auburn's favor like the game against Tennessee, and the Gators ended Auburn's 14-game winning streak with their 90-81 win.
It was rough for the Tigers from the beginning, and they trailed for most of the game. Florida went on multiple runs, stretching their lead to 21 at one point. Only two of Auburn's starters scored in double digits — Johni Broome and Miles Kelly — with Chaney Johnson adding 13 and Tahaad Pettiford scoring 14.
Auburn basketball has finally lost a conference game, leaving no SEC teams undefeated in conference play. The Tigers' record fell to 21-2 overall and 9-1 in the conference, picking up their first loss since Duke in early December.
"Give Florida credit," said head coach Bruce Pearl, per Auburn Rivals. "They just came in here like they had to win it. That's how they played their possession. And they played harder. They played better. They played more desperately.
"We did not look like the No. 1 team in the country. We didn't act like the No. 1 team in the country. We didn't prepare like it. And as a result, we got beat."
However, not all is lost.
Though the Tigers are no longer the unanimous No. 1 in the polls, they remain at No. 1 in the AP Poll. After Duke's loss to Clemson and a 4-point win over Arkansas at home, Alabama rose to No. 2 in the AP Poll and surged past Auburn for the No. 1 spot in the coaches poll despite having more and worse losses than the Tigers. Auburn received 34 first-place votes, and Alabama received 23.
This Saturday, Auburn basketball is set to head to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama in Coleman Coliseum, and the Iron Bowl of Basketball will be played between the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country.
The Tigers return to action tomorrow night against Vanderbilt in Nashville, with tipoff set for 6:00 p.m.