Barnin’ in Boutwell: Auburn Falls in OT, But There’s No Panic in the Pearl Era
The Steven Pearl era at Auburn tipped off in unforgettable fashion Wednesday night, as the No. 20 Tigers fell 97–95 in overtime to Oklahoma State in the “Ballin’ in Boutwell” exhibition in Birmingham. It was chaotic, physical, and sloppy — exactly the kind of first test that exposes what needs fixing and what’s already built to last.
Auburn may have lost the scoreboard battle, but the bigger story was how the team responded. There were flashes of high-level potential and moments of defensive disarray, all wrapped inside the pressure of a sold-out crowd watching the next chapter of Auburn basketball begin.
The First Look: Fast, Flawed, and Fun
Steven Pearl’s debut as head coach felt like a continuation of his father’s DNA — all gas, no brakes. Auburn played fast, attacked the rim relentlessly, and never stopped competing, even when the offense misfired. The Tigers shot just 35.6% from the field and 29.6% from three, but their aggression earned them a staggering 49 free throw attempts, converting 35 of them to stay alive.
The offense looked raw but fearless. The defense — Pearl’s supposed specialty — looked confused at times. Oklahoma State lived in the lane, scoring 48 points inside and repeatedly beating Auburn’s guards off the dribble. Pearl didn’t sugarcoat that.
“Defensively, we just aren’t where we need to be,” Pearl said postgame. “We as coaches did a really bad job of taking the ball out of their hands. That’s 100 percent on me.”
Hall of Fire: Keyshawn Hall Is the Guy
If Auburn fans were looking for a go-to scorer, they found one. UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall exploded for 26 points and 8 rebounds, taking over down the stretch and scoring Auburn’s final nine points of regulation to force overtime. He was the unquestioned tone-setter, blending physicality with confidence — exactly what this young team needed.
Sophomore Tahaad Pettiford, now the team’s emotional and vocal leader, chipped in 17 points and hit a clutch three to tie the game in overtime. His 4-of-16 shooting line wasn’t ideal, but his command of the floor showed maturity. Transfers Elyjah Freeman (16 points) and Kevin Overton (15 points, 8-of-8 FT) provided secondary sparks, while freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams led the team with nine rebounds and plenty of toughness inside.
There’s no doubt about the scoring talent on this roster — the challenge will be organizing it into a cohesive, two-way system.
The Moment That Changed the Mood: Murphy’s Injury
The night took a concerning turn when forward KeShawn Murphy, the Mississippi State transfer expected to anchor Auburn’s frontcourt, exited late in regulation with what appeared to be a left knee injury. Murphy slipped anttempting to anssist a teammate to his feet and limped off with assistance before having his knee braced on the bench.
He was able to walk under his own power during timeouts — a positive sign — but the team will know more after his evaluation back in Auburn. Pearl declined to speculate, saying, “We’ll evaluate him in the next couple of days and see where he’s at. Hopefully, he’s OK.”
Murphy’s health looms large. He was recruited specifically to replace the interior presence of Johni Broome and Dylan Cardwell, and his absence would create immediate pressure on JUCO transfer Emeka Opurum and freshman Williams-Adams to fill the gap.
The Lessons: No Panic, Just Proof
It’s easy to overreact to an exhibition loss. Auburn fans shouldn’t. The issues are clear — defensive rotations, paint protection, and offensive rhythm — but they’re fixable. More importantly, the team showed fight. Down double digits late, they rallied, played through contact, and forced overtime against a veteran Oklahoma State team that’s now won 38 straight exhibition games dating back to 2000.
The staff knows where the cracks are, and Steven Pearl made it clear he owns them. That accountability sets the tone for a program that’s retooling on the fly with 10 new players.
“Every time we dealt with adversity, we didn’t panic and we ended up climbing back into the game,” Pearl said. “That’s what you want to see in October.”
The Road Ahead
Auburn will get one more tune-up before the regular season tips off. The Tigers face Memphis in Atlanta on October 30, a matchup that will test their transition defense and give Pearl another look at his rotations. The season officially opens November 3 at Neville Arena against Bethune-Cookman.
There’s plenty to clean up before then, but the foundation — leadership, accountability, and resilience — looks solid. The debut of Steven Pearl’s era didn’t end in celebration, but it left little doubt that Auburn basketball still has its fire.
Final Word: Keep the Faith, Not the Panic
Exhibitions don’t count, but they can reveal character. Auburn’s defense has a long way to go, the offense needs polish, and the injury to KeShawn Murphy is an early gut punch — but the team showed grit and togetherness. That’s something to build on.
Oklahoma State 97, Auburn 95 (OT)
The scoreboard says loss. The long view says foundation.