Auburn Tigers Dominate Ole Miss, Secure Fifth Straight Victory

AUBURN, Ala. — The Auburn Tigers showcased their strength on Wednesday night, defeating the Ole Miss Rebels 106-76 and achieving a season sweep over their SEC rivals. The victory improves Auburn’s record to 26-2 and 14-1 in Southeastern Conference play.

From the outset, the Tigers set the tone for the game, quickly establishing a commanding lead. Auburn commenced the match with a 29-9 run, outpacing Ole Miss and effectively controlling the pace throughout the first half. The Tigers scored 29 points before the halfway point of the first period.

Auburn tallied 50 points by halftime, marking their highest first-half score since they netted 52 against Richmond on Dec. 8. Despite a brief resurgence from Ole Miss, which attempted to rally later in the first half, the gap proved insurmountable.

In an impressive second-half display, Auburn continued to push forward, accumulating an additional 56 points—giving them their highest-scoring game of the season. The Tigers excelled in their three-point shooting, finishing the game with a 52.4% success rate from beyond the arc, their best performance of the year.

“We had a great start, and that set the tone for the entire game,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl. “It was critical for us to keep that momentum going.”

Auburn’s early shooting spree, which included hitting six of their first eight three-point attempts, laid the groundwork for their victory. Players Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly were pivotal to this success, combining for five three-pointers in the first half.

Baker-Mazara went on to lead the scoring effort with 22 points, achieving a new season high. This performance was crucial as Auburn heads into their next challenge against Kentucky, where a victory could clinch at least a share of the SEC regular-season title.

Wednesday’s win marked Auburn’s fifth consecutive victory and their third straight at home. While their preceding home games against Arkansas and Georgia posed considerable challenges, Auburn rose to the occasion against Ole Miss, a team currently enjoying a strong season.

Auburn’s performance highlighted their potential as one of the top teams in college basketball, affirming their dominance in arguably the most competitive conference this season. The Tigers will now aim to maintain their momentum on Saturday against Kentucky, a matchup that could solidify their position at the top of the SEC standings.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports. He can be followed on X at [insert Twitter handle] or contacted via email at [insert email address].