College Station, Texas – In a thrilling upset, the No. 22 Texas A&M men’s basketball team secured a historic victory over top-ranked Auburn on Tuesday night. Zhuric Phelps played a key role off the bench, contributing 19 points to the Aggies’ 83-72 win. This victory marks Texas A&M’s first triumph over a No. 1 ranked team in the AP Top 25 poll.
Auburn, who had been on a six-game winning streak, suffered their first loss in the SEC season after clinching the conference title with a win over Kentucky. Despite entering the game with a flawless 9-0 record in SEC road games, Auburn could not maintain their road dominance against a determined Texas A&M squad.
Auburn’s leading scorer, Johni Broome, struggled throughout the game, managing only eight points despite averaging 18.4 points per game. Although Broome briefly left the court in the first half due to a shoulder issue, he returned to play 32 minutes. This marked his second consecutive game scoring in single digits, putting a strain on Auburn’s offensive capabilities.
The Aggies took control early in the game, establishing a 12-2 lead and maintaining a double-digit advantage for most of the night. Tahaad Pettiford’s late efforts helped Auburn narrow the gap, but Phelps’ clutch free throws secured Texas A&M’s victory.
In the second half, Pettiford’s three-pointers fueled Auburn’s comeback attempt, bringing them within six points of the Aggies. However, Wade Taylor IV’s three-point play ignited a crucial 5-0 run that extended Texas A&M’s lead to 62-51, stifling Auburn’s momentum.
This win solidifies Texas A&M as the second team this season to defeat an AP No. 1-ranked team wire-to-wire, following Creighton’s victory over Kansas earlier in the season. Pettiford led Auburn in scoring with 19 points, including six three-pointers, showcasing his offensive prowess throughout the game.