Pettiford Ignites Second-Half Comeback as Auburn Storms Past St. John’s in Vegas Redemption Win
The No. 21 Auburn Tigers rallied from a sluggish first half and a double-digit deficit to defeat No. 14 St. John’s 85–74 in the consolation final of the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. Less than 24 hours after being run off the floor by Michigan in a 102–72 loss, Auburn responded with a performance that not only salvaged their trip out West but potentially shifted the tone of their season.
Auburn trailed 39–30 at halftime, and that gap quickly widened to 11 in the early stages of the second half. But fueled by sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford’s career-high 27 points and a total team resurgence, the Tigers outscored the Red Storm 55–35 in the final 20 minutes. It was Auburn’s first win of the season after trailing at the half, and it was a reminder of just how dangerous they can be when locked in.
Pettiford was electric after the break. Of his 27 points, 18 came in the second half, including a stretch where he scored 12 straight for Auburn to help erase a 61–59 deficit. That scoring burst featured a pair of three-pointers, two finishes at the rim, and a trip to the line. His three-point shooting and ability to finish through contact carried the Tigers to the finish line. He finished 9-for-14 from the field, 4-for-7 from deep, and perfect from the line. Auburn shot 64.0 percent from the field and 62.5 percent from three in the second half, showcasing the kind of rhythm that had been completely missing just a night earlier.
Forward Keyshawn Hall also played a major role. Hall dropped 20 points and hauled in eight rebounds, with 18 of those points coming in the second half. His physicality inside helped flip the rebounding battle and gave Auburn a consistent post option. Along with Pettiford, the duo scored 31 by themselves in the second half.
Defensively, Auburn clamped down in ways they couldn’t against Michigan. The Tigers forced 14 turnovers, scored 20 points off them, and completely neutralized the Red Storm’s offensive weapons. Bryce Hopkins, St. John’s preseason All-Big East First Teamer, finished with just 9 points on 2-for-11 shooting. Oziyah Sellers was 1-for-7, and the Tigers contained star big man Zuby Ejiofor to just 1-of-5 shooting in the second half after he scored 17 in the first. Auburn’s adjustments clearly paid off.
Steven Pearl praised the team’s resilience and response. “We took a really tough situation yesterday and we bounced back,” he said. “This was about pride, about staying together. When this team is connected, we can do unbelievable things.”
Auburn shot 54.7 percent from the field overall and limited their own mistakes, committing only two turnovers in the second half after 10 in the first. Pettiford wasn’t alone in stepping up: Kevin Overton added 12 points and a season-high five assists while going 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. Elyjah Freeman chipped in eight points on 4-of-5 shooting, and KeShawn Murphy added five points and four rebounds. Hall was a force inside and finished with a game-high 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting.
The win capped off a 2–1 run in Las Vegas and gave Auburn its fifth regular-season non-conference win over a top-16 opponent in the last two seasons. For context, the Tigers had only two such wins in program history before that span. Pettiford’s tournament averages—22.3 points per game and marked improvement from deep—signal his evolution into a legitimate scoring threat. The Tigers will head home at 6–2 with a clear sense of direction.
Meanwhile, Michigan’s dominance continued. The same Wolverines squad that pummeled Auburn closed out the tournament by destroying Gonzaga 101–61 to win the Players Era Championship. The 40-point rout was the most lopsided loss of Mark Few’s 902-game career. Michigan led 53–29 at halftime and held Gonzaga to just 33.8 percent shooting from the field and a miserable 13.6 percent from three. Forward Yaxel Lendeborg was named tournament MVP after posting 20 points and 11 rebounds. The Wolverines had six players score in double figures, led by Lendeborg, Trey McKenney (17), Nimari Burnett (14), and Aday Mara (13). Freshman Elliot Cadeau also dished out 13 assists.
In light of Michigan’s continued dominance, Auburn’s loss Tuesday looks far less concerning. The Tigers responded the right way, finished strong, and walked out of Vegas with their heads high.
HotBasketballTake: Auburn 85, St. John’s 74
That wasn’t a bounce-back. That was a statement. Pettiford is a a beast, Hall is a weapon, and this team knows how to fight.