Auburn Tigers center Dylan Cardwell (44) celebrates a dunk during the Auburn Tigers’ matchup against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. In a highly anticipated showdown in Auburn, Alabama, the Auburn Tigers held off the Tennessee Volunteers for a 53-51 victory. The game was defined by strong defensive plays, with Auburn making key stops when it counted most.
This win maintains Auburn’s undefeated record in SEC play, improving their season record to 18-1.
Offensive struggles were prevalent throughout the game, with Tennessee shooting just 31% from the field, closely followed by Auburn at 31%. Both teams struggled to find their rhythm from beyond the arc, with only one 3-point shot made in the entire first half. As the game entered its final moments, the intensity escalated, but the No. 6-ranked Volunteers (18-3, 4-3 SEC) could not extend their lead over the top-ranked Tigers (18-1, 9-0), who remain undefeated in SEC play.
Stifling Defenses Leave Offenses Struggling
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Tennessee and Auburn engaged in an early defensive struggle, with both offenses finding it difficult to get anything going. Late shot-clock heaves became commonplace, and open shots were scarce.
Auburn got the scoring underway with a put-back dunk from Dylan Cardwell off an offensive rebound. Tennessee struggled offensively, with Zakai Zeigler earning the team’s first points off two free throws. It wasn’t until the 14:47 mark in the first half that the Vols managed a field goal — a dunk by Felix Okpara. By halftime, both teams had combined for just seven made field goals, shooting inefficiently. Auburn held a slight two-point lead, with free throws playing a key role as they shot 22% from the field.
Defensive intensity remained high throughout, with both teams combining for only one made 3-pointer in the first 20 minutes — a shot by Johni Broome.
The defenses also contributed 10 steals and seven blocks. Both teams worked hard to prevent easy scoring opportunities, with Tennessee committing eight turnovers and Auburn five. Zakai Zeigler led Tennessee in the first half with six points, despite struggling with his three-point shooting. Johni Broome paced Auburn with nine points in his return to action.
In the second half, Tennessee’s offense continued to struggle.
Freshman Chaz Lanier, who had been inconsistent during conference play, failed to get going early. He finished with 10 points on 11 shots, with his only first-half basket being a fastbreak dunk. However, with 12:10 left, Lanier hit a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 33, breaking Tennessee’s 0-for-14 perimeter shooting slump.
As Tennessee trailed by two in the final minutes, Lanier again came through with a clutch three-pointer from beyond the arc to put the Vols ahead by a point. However, Auburn responded with a jumper from Tahaad Pettiford to regain the lead.
With the game in the balance, Tennessee had a chance to tie or take the lead, but Zeigler missed a corner three with 10 seconds remaining. Auburn capitalized, with Miles Kelly hitting a corner three-pointer to put the Tigers ahead with 30 seconds left, sealing the win. In the game, Auburn’s center, Dylan Cardwell, made a significant impact, contributing both offensively and defensively. His performance was crucial in the team’s narrow victory over the Volunteers.
Coming Up
Looking ahead, Auburn is scheduled to face the Georgia Bulldogs on January 28, 2025. This upcoming matchup presents an opportunity for the Tigers to continue their strong performance in the SEC.
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