A strong opening half ultimately wasn’t enough for South Alabama, as their season ended with a 78–67 loss to Auburn in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament at Neville Arena on Tuesday night. The Jaguars, who finished the year 21–12, came out with confidence and control, dictating the tempo for much of the first half and heading into halftime with a solid 36–30 advantage. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after the break, as Auburn caught fire from three-point range and turned the game in its favor.
South Alabama started the contest on the front foot, quickly establishing rhythm on offense and knocking down five three-pointers in the first half. Their hot shooting and aggressive play helped them build an early double-digit lead, putting Auburn on the defensive from the outset. The Jaguars maintained their composure and extended their lead to as many as 11 points late in the half, controlling play for more than 17 minutes before taking a six-point cushion into the locker room.
The second half told a completely different story. Auburn came out energized and immediately put pressure on South Alabama with an 11–2 run, erasing the deficit and leveling the score at 36–36 just minutes into the half. From there, the Tigers found their groove from beyond the arc, knocking down consecutive three-pointers to claim their first lead since the early stages of the game. Their perimeter shooting continued to be the difference-maker, as a decisive 10–0 run midway through the half pushed Auburn’s lead into double digits and firmly shifted control.
Despite the surge from Auburn, South Alabama did not go away quietly. Behind the efforts of Chaze Harris and Stephen Williams, the Jaguars mounted a late push, cutting the deficit to six points at 67–61 with under four minutes remaining. However, Auburn responded in clutch fashion, hitting timely three-pointers down the stretch to reestablish a comfortable lead and close out the game.
Individually, Chaze Harris delivered an outstanding performance, leading all scorers with 29 points while also contributing eight rebounds and six assists in a well-rounded effort. Stephen Williams added 14 points and nine rebounds, and Jayden Cooper chipped in 14 points of his own, including four shots from beyond the arc.
Statistically, the game was defined by contrasting strengths. South Alabama shot an efficient 45 percent from the field and 35 percent from three-point range, while Auburn shot 39 percent overall and 36.4 percent from deep. The key difference came in volume and timing, as Auburn connected on 16 three-pointers—11 of them in the second half alone. Although the Jaguars dominated inside, outscoring Auburn 36–14 in the paint, they were outrebounded 42–31 and gave up a significant 17–6 margin in second-chance points, which proved costly.
Following the game, head coach Richie Riley reflected on the season with pride, emphasizing the resilience and unity of his team. He described the group as special, highlighting their underdog mentality and strong team culture, and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach a group that consistently stepped up throughout a memorable and rewarding season.
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