Tahaad Pettiford Shines as Auburn Storms Back against LSU

The Auburn Tigers fell behind early but were able to get the win against LSU behind the hot hand of guard Tahaad Pettiford.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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The Auburn Tigers overcame an early deficit to defeat the LSU Tigers 88-74 on Tuesday night. Sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford led the way for Auburn, scoring 27 points on 10-of-16 shooting and adding 6 assists, 4 steals, and 2 rebounds. Pettiford hit a pair of 3-pointers in quick succession to give Auburn an 11-point lead in the second half, and then threw down a thunderous dunk to extend the advantage. Kevin Overton also had a big game for Auburn, scoring 21 points and hitting 8-of-13 3-pointers.

Why it matters

This was an important win for the Auburn Tigers, who are looking to build momentum heading into the SEC Tournament. The team overcame an early deficit and got strong performances from several key players, showcasing their ability to win tough games against conference opponents.

The details

Auburn trailed early but took a 41-34 lead at halftime, converting 10 LSU turnovers into 10 points. In the second half, Pettiford took over, hitting a pair of 3-pointers in 44 seconds to push the lead to 11 points. He then threw down a thunderous dunk to extend the advantage. Overton also had a big game, scoring 14 consecutive points for Auburn late in the second half. The Tigers led by as many as 17 points in the final minute.

  • The game tipped off at 9 p.m. CT on Tuesday, March 4, 2026.

The players

Tahaad Pettiford

A sophomore guard for the Auburn Tigers who led the team with 27 points, 6 assists, 4 steals, and 2 rebounds in the win over LSU.

Kevin Overton

A player for the Auburn Tigers who scored 21 points, including 8-of-13 shooting from 3-point range, to help lead the team to victory.

Steven Pearl

The head coach of the Auburn Tigers, who praised his team's defensive effort and offensive execution in the win.

Michael Nwoko

A player for the LSU Tigers who scored 19 points in the losing effort.

Reed Trapp

A senior walk-on for the Auburn Tigers who entered the game in the final minute.

CJ Williams

A senior walk-on for the Auburn Tigers who entered the game in the final minute.

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What they’re saying

“Great to get a win, great to send our seniors out on a right note. Defensively, we did a lot of good things early, and we were very in control offensively tonight, which makes a big difference.”

— Steven Pearl, Auburn Head Coach (si.com)

“Team-wise, it feels amazing. Trying to get that momentum to show the world what we can do.”

— Tahaad Pettiford (si.com)

“Do what we've got to do to win. Trying to get downhill, that's what our coach preaches. I've been looking for that type of dunk all year, so I was glad to get it.”

— Tahaad Pettiford (si.com)

“He hit some tough ones and he was feeling it tonight. I'm more pleased with what he did defensively. It was great to see him and Tahaad sit down and guard.”

— Steven Pearl, Auburn Head Coach (si.com)

“We were more active with our hands. We were more aggressive and in the right positions. When you play with great energy and activity like that, anything you do is going to work.”

— Steven Pearl, Auburn Head Coach (si.com)

What’s next

Auburn concludes the regular season on Saturday, March 8, 2026 at No. 16 Alabama at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN and the Auburn Sports Network.

The takeaway

This win showcases the Auburn Tigers' ability to overcome early deficits and get strong performances from multiple players. The team's defensive intensity and offensive execution were key factors in the victory, and they will look to carry that momentum into their final regular season game and the SEC Tournament.