Coogs lose to Auburn, 74-69, in Battleground2k24

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POSTED: November 11, 2024 -- 8:45 a.m. CT

HOUSTON, TX -- Toyota Center

In a match-up of two of the top defenses in men's college basketball, the Houston Cougars lost to the Auburn Tigers, 74-69, in the second game of a doubleheader for the Battleground2k24 event.

Houston was outdone by Auburn's duo of AP All-American big man Johni Broome and freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford. Pettiford is a 2024 McDonald's High School American and was rated one of the top guards in the high school class of 2024.

Pettiford scored a game-high 21 points on 7 for 12 field goal shooting -- including splashing 5 of his 8 three-point attempts. Broome scored 20 points and added 9 rebounds plus 5 blocked shots.

"The kid that I thought that changed the game for them was Pettiford," Kelvin Sampson, Houston Cougars Men's Basketball Head Coach, said after the game. "I thought he was really, really good. He changed the game."

Houston (1-1) led Auburn (2-0) 33-28 at halftime. Houston forward Terrance Arceneaux swished a three-point shot before the halftime buzzer sounded for Houston's five point lead.

The Coogs' lead grew to 9 (41-32) in the second half. Broome scored the next 4 points during an 8-0 run by Auburn which cut Houston's lead to just one point (41-40). Pettiford knocked down a jumper to cap the 8-0 run.

Houston scored the next 4 points but Pettiford responded with a three-point bucket and a driving layup to trim Houston's lead to 47-45.

Houston led 56-51 with 6:13 remaining in the second half. After an Auburn timeout, Pettiford swished his second three-pointer of the half and teammate Chad Baker-Mazara swished a three to put Auburn on top 57-56.

Houston big man Ja'Vier Francis knocked down two free throws as the score went on a seesaw the next few minutes.

Broome got a dunk (assist from Pettiford) for a 59-58 Auburn lead. After Houston's Emanuel Sharp made 2 free throws, Pettiford hit a pull up three-point shot for a 62-60 Auburn lead with 4:14 on the game clock.

After Houston's LJ Cryer missed a jumper, Broome scored a turnaround jumper (assist from Pettiford) for a 64-60 Auburn lead.

Houston responded with 2 made free throws; a pull up jumper by newcomer Milos Uzan and a deep three-point basket by Emanuel Sharp.

The Coogs led 67-66 after Sharp's three-point basket. However, Baker-Mazara scored in the post to put Auburn ahead 68-67 with 1:50 remaining in the ball game.

Houston failed to score on its next to possessions and Baker-Mazara and teammate Denver Jones each knocked down two free throws to increase the lead to 72-67 with just 22 seconds to go in the ball game. LJ Cryer missed a three-point shot attempt but scored a layup after an offensive rebound.

However, Pettiford, quite fittingly, iced Auburn's victory with 2 made free throws with 8 seconds left in the game.

Broome and Pettiford carved up Houston's vaunted defense in the second half. Auburn made 16 of 28 field goals in the second half: Broome (8 for 10) and Pettiford (5 for 8) combined to make 13 of the 16 made baskets.

"Pettiford had 21. That's a talented, little dude," Coach Sampson said. "Bruce (Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl) has a really good team. There is no shame on our side."

Coach Sampson continued, "Had we won the game, it wasn't going to be any kind of bad loss for Auburn. It's certainly not a bad loss for us. It's a loss that we hope we can learn from. We lost to a really good team. But, this is why we scheduled this game. Tonight, we got exposed on some areas that we gotta go back and figure out how we can get better and clear up some things.

"But, today is November the 9th. You have wins and losses; but, then you have wisdom and learning. Tonight was a learning night for us."

Next: Houston's next game is Wednesday, November 13, versus Louisiana. Tip is set for 7 pm CT and airs on ESPN+.

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