It was a trying weekend for the Auburn basketball team, which played its second road game in a row on Saturday against the South Carolina Gamecocks. With two conference losses under their belts, the Gamecocks came into Saturday's matchup with a vengeance and kept the score close right up to the final buzzer.
The Tigers pulled off a 66-63 win but had to do it in the second half without star player Johni Broome, who went out six minutes into the half with what we now know is a sprained ankle. Though Broome's injury will not require surgery, there is no timetable for his return.
Things won't get any easier for Auburn basketball as they prepare for the rest of the SEC gauntlet, beginning with a home game against Mississippi State tomorrow evening. Here is what was said after the weekend win.
Head coach Bruce Pearl on conference road games, per Auburn Rivals:
“This is what it's going to be every night in the league. That's just what it's going to be. And road wins are going to be hard to get. I think the key is going to be, you can't be too affected by losing or too affected by winning. You've just gotta get to the next one.”
Pearl on if Broome is out for some time, per Auburn Undercover:
"Yeah, we'll just see what the doc says. It's gonna be just like it was for us in the second half. It's gotta be the next man up. So, whether it be Dylan Cardwell or Chaney Johnson or Ja'Heim Hudson or Chris Moore — that's our depth on the frontline. And I just thought our guards made big plays, obviously. I thought Miles Kelly, again, has shown great poise on the road. He's played his best games at Duke, at Texas and here."
Tahaad Pettiford on his performance in the second half, per Auburn Rivals:
"I knew the shot clock was getting down, so I just tried to create," Pettiford said. "I got to the middle, and the bigs stepped up. I knew that somebody was gonna be open. It was Cap, and I just saw the gap and gave it to him."
The Tigers tipoff against Mississippi State at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow from Neville Arena.