Auburn Basketball Fights Back But Falls to Oklahoma State in Overtime

Auburn men’s basketball opened the Steven Pearl era with a dramatic preseason exhibition, falling 97-95 in overtime to Oklahoma State at Boutwell Auditorium. The Tigers struggled offensively, shooting just 36% from the field and 30% from three, but fought back from a late deficit to force overtime in a contest that had the intensity of an NCAA Tournament game. Oklahoma State dominated inside, scoring 48 points in the paint and shooting 53% on two-point attempts, exposing Auburn’s interior defense after the departures of Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell. The Cowboys also controlled the boards with a plus-9 rebounding edge. Auburn trailed by six with three minutes left, but transfer Chaney Johnson Hall, who led all scorers with 26 points, delivered nine straight points to tie the game at 85 before the end of regulation. The Tigers forced a turnover on the final possession, sending the game to overtime. In overtime, Oklahoma State quickly pulled ahead as Auburn missed key shots. Despite another and-one from Hall and a clutch three-pointer by Tahaad Pettiford, the Tigers couldn’t close the gap in the final seconds. Pettiford finished with 16 points but struggled from the field, shooting 4-of-16 overall. A key concern emerged when Mississippi State transfer KeShawn Murphy suffered a leg injury late in the game. He left the court with assistance but later returned to the bench with a knee brace, offering reassurance to the Auburn staff and fans. Auburn’s young roster saw contributions from Kaden Magwood and Elyjah Freeman, who added back-to-back threes to close the gap in the second half. Freeman, a sophomore transfer from Lincoln Memorial, scored 16 points, 10 of them after halftime. The Tigers converted 19-of-23 free throws in the second half, which kept them in contention despite offensive struggles. The exhibition highlighted Auburn’s need for defensive improvement and consistency in shooting as the team prepares for the regular season. The Tigers will play their final exhibition game against Memphis on October 30 in Atlanta. For updates and more details, visit the Official Auburn Men’s Basketball Website, follow Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) on X, and see the full recap on 247Sports.