Bruce Pearl Admits Auburn Was ‘Punched in the Mouth’ by Texas A&M in Tough Loss
Despite holding the No. 1 ranking in college basketball, the Auburn Tigers showed some vulnerabilities in their recent 83-72 loss to No. 22 Texas A&M. The defeat exposed key weaknesses in Auburn’s game, and head coach Bruce Pearl did not shy away from expressing his disappointment.
Auburn struggled to maintain offensive consistency throughout the game, failing to score at least 40 points in either half. The team also struggled on the boards, managing just 25 rebounds, and their defensive discipline wavered as they committed 19 fouls. These shortcomings allowed Texas A&M to control the game and maintain their lead from start to finish.
After the game, Pearl bluntly described the physical nature of the contest, stating that his team was simply outmuscled and outplayed by a more aggressive Texas A&M squad.
**“We just got physically punched in the mouth. We just got physically run out of here,”** Pearl said, via Peter Rauterkus of AL.com. **“The scouting report’s out. The best way to beat Auburn is to hit them in the mouth. And we’re either going to be able to handle the physicality of the play, or we’re not. Tonight, we just couldn’t handle it.”**
Texas A&M’s dominance was evident across the board, with five players scoring in double figures. In contrast, Auburn relied heavily on just three players—Tahaad Pettiford, Miles Kelly, and Chad Baker-Mazara—who were the only Tigers to record more than 10 points.
One of Auburn’s biggest concerns was the performance of star player Johni Broome, who was effectively neutralized by the Aggies’ defense. Despite playing 32 minutes, Broome was held to just eight points, a significant drop from his usual production. His inability to make an impact inside highlighted Auburn’s struggles against a physical and defensive-minded opponent.
With the SEC Tournament and March Madness fast approaching, Auburn will need to address these weaknesses quickly. The loss to Texas A&M serves as a wake-up call, exposing the need for adjustments in rebounding, defensive intensity, and overall offensive execution. If the Tigers hope to make a deep tournament run, they must prove they can handle the kind of physical play that Texas A&M used to disrupt their game.
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