Auburn fans were waiting for it. Through the first five games of the season, Tahaad Pettiford just wasn’t himself. His shot wasn’t falling, his efficiency lagged, and the confident, aggressive guard that made him so dangerous last year was noticeably absent.
Monday night in Las Vegas, Pettiford reminded everyone why he’s one of the SEC’s most dangerous scorers. He poured in 24 points on 9-of-18 shooting in No. 21 Auburn’s 84–73 win over Oregon at the Players Era Tournament, matching his career high and giving the Tigers the boost they desperately needed.
“The first couple games I didn’t play how I wanted to play,” Pettiford said, per CBS Sports. “I stayed composed, stayed in the gym, and my coaches and teammates had my back. Monday was the day it needed to be shown.”
Last year, Pettiford earned a reputation for stepping up in big games. He averaged 13.4 points in road games and 15.2 points in NCAA Tournament games — both higher than his overall season average of 11.6 points — showing he thrives when the stakes are highest. Monday night was no different — he attacked the basket, hit shots from all over the court, and kept Auburn in control during critical stretches.
After averaging 11.6 points as a freshman coming off the bench and briefly testing the NBA Draft waters, Pettiford returned to Auburn determined to take on a bigger role. This season, he’s starting, logging more minutes, and drawing the attention of opposing defenses as a primary scoring threat. The early-season struggles were a reminder that stepping into that kind of role isn’t easy, but Monday’s game shows he’s finally finding his stride.
Tonight, Auburn faces No. 7 Michigan in a rematch of last year’s NCAA Tournament matchup, where Pettiford scored 20 points on 50% shooting. Auburn will need him to bring that same energy and efficiency if the Tigers hope to pull off another big road win.
Pettiford is now averaging 13.0 points per game, second on the team, and if he can carry Monday’s momentum into another high-level matchup, Auburn’s ceiling just got a lot higher.
In Las Vegas, Pettiford didn’t just find his shot — he reminded everyone why he’s the kind of player who can change a game when it matters most.