No. 1 Auburn escapes No. 23 Georgia with 70-68 win

Tahaad Pettiford hit 5 of 7 shots from 3-point range, scoring 24 off the bench to help No. 1 Auburn escape No. 23 Georgia with a 70-68 win
Auburn guard Denver Jones (2) dribbles the ball past Georgia guard Silas Demary Jr. (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Auburn guard Denver Jones (2) dribbles the ball past Georgia guard Silas Demary Jr. (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Tahaad Pettiford hit 5 of 7 shots from 3-point range, scoring 24 off the bench to help No. 1 Auburn escape No. 23 Georgia with a 70-68 win on Saturday.

Auburn (17-1, 5-0 SEC) has won 10 in a row and a second straight game without star Johni Broome, who injured his ankle in a Jan. 11 win over South Carolina.

Georgia (14-4, 2-3) struggled with free throws, making 9 of 20 from the line.

Takeaways

Auburn: The Tigers earned a Top 25 win without leading scorer Broome (17.9 points per game).

Georgia: The Bulldogs suffered their first home loss of the season (11-1). The loss snapped a 13-game winning streak at Stegeman Coliseum — the fourth longest home winning streak in program history.

Key moment

Down 70-67 with nine seconds to play in regulation, Georgia had a chance to tie the game at 70 after a Miles Kelly turnover led to Dakota Leffew getting a look from 3 with seven seconds to go. His shot was too strong. Asa Newell had a chance to tie it at the buzzer, but missed.

Key stat

The Tigers tallied 32 points off the bench in Broome's absence.

Up next

Auburn hosts No. 6 Tennessee on Jan 25. Georgia visits Arkansas on Tuesday night.

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Auburn guard Denver Jones (2) yells to teammates while dribbling the ball past Georgia guard Tyrin Lawrence (7) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Georgia guard Tyrin Lawrence (7) celebrates his 3-point shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Georgia guard Tyrin Lawrence (7) shoots the ball over Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) and Auburn forward Jahki Howard (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Georgia center Somto Cyril (6) reaches to block the shot of Auburn forward Chaney Johnson (31) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (40) smiles while walking down the court during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Auburn guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) celebrates after an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Georgia guard Blue Cain (0) shoots as Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl yells to his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Georgia, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Georgia head coach Mike White directs his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Auburn forward Chaney Johnson (31) shoots over Georgia forward Asa Newell (14) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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Auburn guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) shoots betweem Georgia forward Justin Abson (25) and Georgia guard Blue Cain (0) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/Kathryn Skeean)

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