Auburn stumbles in race for top seed in NCAA Tournament after 83-72 loss to Texas A&M

Auburn had a agency maintain on the No. 1 total seed within the NCAA Event, but it surely might need opened the door on that after struggling its third lack of the season on Tuesday night time. Texas A&M handed an 83-72 defeat to the Tigers, retaining them at arm’s size the entire sport because the Aggies took the lead on their first possession and by no means conceded it. 

The loss means No. 1 Auburn (27-3 total, 15-2 SEC) and No. 2 Duke (27-3, 18-1 ACC), who have been the highest two seeds in that order in Fox Sports’ Mike DeCourcy’s bracket projection, are actually tied on total document. The Blue Devils maintain the head-to-head benefit since they beat the Tigers 84-78 on Dec. 4. Auburn nonetheless has the stronger resume with a 16-2 document in Quad 1 video games to Duke’s 6-3 document. 

Johni Broome was held to eight factors three days after scoring simply 9 factors towards Kentucky. Broome is the odds-on favourite (-240) to win the Picket Participant of the Yr award, per Bet MGM. These two down performances could give approach to Duke freshman Cooper Flagg to regain traction within the race for this award. 

The Tigers had traversed the gauntlet that’s the SEC schedule with ease till Tuesday’s sport in School Station. Zhuric Phelps scored 19 factors off the bench and No. 22 Texas A&M earned its first-ever win over a crew ranked No. 1 within the AP Prime 25 ballot. The Aggies ended a six-game profitable streak for the Tigers, who clinched the Southeastern Convention title with a win over Kentucky on Saturday.

Texas A&M (21-9, 10-7 SEC) denied Auburn an undefeated convention street document after the Tigers entered the sport 9-0 in SEC street video games this season.

The Aggies, who snapped a season-long four-game skid, led by double digits for many of the night time and have been up 12 with about two minutes to go earlier than Tahaad Pettiford made a 3-pointer to get Auburn inside 79-70. However Phelps made two free throws to increase the lead.

Pettiford made three 3-pointers in lower than two minutes early within the second half to energy a run that received the Tigers inside six, however Wade Taylor IV had a three-point play that began a 5-0 run which pushed A&M’s benefit to 62-51.

Pettiford led Auburn with 19 factors, together with six 3-pointers. 

The Related Press contributed to this report.

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