AUBURN, Ala. (Interstat) — In a Southeastern Conference clash defined by rugged defense and a decisive disparity at the free-throw line, the Auburn Tigers held off a persistent South Carolina squad for a 71-67 victory on Saturday night at a packed Auburn Arena.

A crowd of 9,121 watched as the Tigers, despite an uncharacteristically frigid night from beyond the arc, leveraged their interior presence and defensive activity to improve to 11-7 overall. South Carolina, which mounted a second-half charge to erase a double-digit deficit, fell to 10-8.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded in the game’s final minute, a tense sequence that saw the lead change hands three times. With Auburn clinging to a 65-62 advantage, South Carolina’ Mike Sharavjamts found Myles Stute for a clutch three-pointer from the wing, tying the game at 65 with 43 seconds remaining.

Auburn answered immediately. On the ensuing possession, guard Tahaad Pettiford drove and kicked to a wide-open Kevin Overton in the corner, who drained a three-pointer to put the Tigers back ahead 68-65 with just 33 seconds left. It was only Auburn’s second made three-pointer in 19 attempts, making it a devastating blow.

South Carolina, refusing to wilt, came right back. Sharavjamts drove hard to the basket for a layup, cutting the deficit to 68-67 with 17 seconds on the clock. The Gamecocks were then forced to foul, sending Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall to the line. Hall, a reserve forward, calmly sank both free throws to extend the lead to 70-67.

After a South Carolina timeout, the Gamecocks’ final attempt to force overtime was a well-defended three-point attempt by Meechie Johnson that missed. Overton secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and made one of two free throws to provide the final margin. A last-gasp turnover by South Carolina sealed the result.

The frantic finish capped a game where Auburn’s formula for success was established early: attack the paint and earn trips to the foul line. The Tigers attempted 30 free throws, making 23, while South Carolina went 13 for 20 from the stripe. That 10-point advantage proved to be the ultimate difference on a night where both teams shot an identical 23 field goals.

Auburn’s interior dominance was underscored by a 42-26 advantage in points in the paint, fueled largely by forward Filip Jovic. The 6-foot-8 junior from Belgrade, Serbia, was a force, scoring a game-high 23 points on efficient 9-of-12 shooting, adding three blocks and two steals in 29 minutes. His consistent scoring in the lane, particularly on feeds from guards Pettiford and Overton, provided Auburn’s offensive backbone.

South Carolina was led by guard Meechie Johnson’s 17 points and six assists. Kobe Knox added 12 points, while Sharavjamts finished with 13 points, two assists and two blocks. The Gamecocks struggled with Auburn’s defensive pressure, committing 15 turnovers that led to 10 points for the Tigers. Auburn also tallied 10 steals and eight blocks, showcasing their defensive length and activity.

The first half set the tone for the physical affair. Auburn built a 30-24 lead at intermission by holding South Carolina to 39% shooting and capitalizing on a 10-of-13 performance from the free-throw line. The Gamecocks’ offense, which managed only five total assists for the game, often devolved into isolation plays against a stout Auburn defense.

South Carolina emerged from the break with more energy, quickly cutting into the deficit. A three-pointer by Johnson and a driving layup by Sharavjamts fueled a 9-2 run that brought the Gamecocks within a single possession. Throughout the second half, the visitors would repeatedly close the gap, only for Auburn to respond with a key basket, often from Jovic or a trip to the foul line.

Auburn’s balance was key. Alongside Jovic’s 23, KeShawn Murphy provided 11 points and two blocks off the bench, Sebastian Williams-Adams added 11 points and relentless defensive energy, and Overton chipped in nine points, five assists and three steals. Pettiford directed the offense with nine points and five assists.

Despite the loss, South Carolina showed resilience in a hostile environment, battling back from a deficit that reached 11 points in the second half. Their defensive effort limited Auburn to just 2-of-19 shooting from three-point range, but they could not overcome the Tigers’ interior scoring and their own struggles at the charity stripe.

The victory gives Auburn momentum as it prepares for a two-game road trip starting at Mississippi on Tuesday. South Carolina returns home to face Oklahoma on Tuesday, looking to snap a two-game skid in conference play.