COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Zhuric Phelps came off the bench to score 19 points, leading No. 22 Texas A&M to an 83-72 victory over the top-ranked Auburn on Tuesday night. This win marks a significant achievement for Texas A&M, as it is their first time defeating a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll.
The victory also ended Auburn’s impressive six-game winning streak. The Tigers had just clinched the Southeastern Conference title with a win over Kentucky. Texas A&M improved their record to 21-9 overall, with a 10-7 mark in the SEC, while Auburn fell to 27-3 and 15-2 in the conference. This loss denied Auburn an undefeated record in SEC road games, as they had previously won all nine of their away games this season.
Auburn’s top scorer, Johni Broome, had a tough night, scoring only eight points, significantly below his average of 18.4. He briefly left the game in the first half due to an apparent shoulder injury but managed to play through the pain. This was Broome’s second consecutive game with single-digit scoring.
Texas A&M started strong, jumping to a 12-2 lead early in the game and maintaining a double-digit advantage for much of the night. With just two minutes remaining, they led by 12 points. Although Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 79-70, Phelps sealed the game with two free throws.
Pettiford led Auburn with 19 points, making six 3-pointers, and sparked a comeback effort early in the second half. However, Wade Taylor IV countered with a three-point play, helping Texas A&M regain momentum and push their lead back to 62-51.
Texas A&M joins Creighton as the only teams this season to defeat an AP No. 1 team while leading the entire game, adding another exciting chapter to their basketball story.
Check out this related article: Historic Upset: No. 22 Texas A&M Shocks No. 1 Auburn Just Before SEC Tournament
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