Auburn falls in Aggies’ first win over No. 1 team

Texas A&M Stuns Top-Ranked Auburn in Historic Victory

March 4, 2025, will be a date to remember for Texas A&M fans, as the Aggies pulled off a stunning victory over the top-ranked Auburn Tigers. The atmosphere in College Station, Texas, was electric as Zhuric Phelps came off the bench to score 19 points, leading No. 22 Texas A&M to an impressive 83-72 win. This victory marks the first time in the program’s history that Texas A&M has defeated a team ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll.

The win was not just a feather in the cap for the Aggies; it also ended a six-game winning streak for Auburn, who had just clinched the Southeastern Conference title with a win over Kentucky on Saturday. Texas A&M (21-9, 10-7 SEC) managed to deny Auburn (27-3, 15-2) an undefeated conference road record, as the Tigers had entered the game with a perfect 9-0 record in SEC road games this season.

Auburn’s performance was hampered by an off night from their top scorer, Johni Broome. Broome, who came into the game averaging 18.4 points, managed just eight points. He left the game briefly in the first half with what appeared to be a shoulder injury but returned to play 32 minutes despite the setback. This game marked Broome’s second consecutive outing with single-digit scoring.

The Aggies, who had been struggling with a season-long four-game losing streak, came out strong, opening the game on a 12-2 run. They maintained a double-digit lead for most of the night, showcasing their determination and resilience. With about two minutes left in the game, Texas A&M was up by 12 points when Tahaad Pettiford made a 3-pointer to bring Auburn within 79-70. However, Phelps responded by making two crucial free throws to extend the Aggies’ lead.

Pettiford was a bright spot for Auburn, leading the team with 19 points, including six 3-pointers. Early in the second half, he made three 3-pointers in less than two minutes, sparking a run that brought the Tigers within six points. But Texas A&M’s Wade Taylor IV answered with a three-point play that initiated a 5-0 run, pushing the Aggies’ advantage to 62-51.

Texas A&M’s victory over Auburn makes them the second team this season to defeat an AP No. 1-ranked team in wire-to-wire fashion. They join the ranks of Creighton, who achieved a similar feat by defeating then-No. 1 Kansas on December 4.

• Key Highlights:
• Zhuric Phelps scored 19 points off the bench for Texas A&M.
• Texas A&M’s first win over a No. 1 ranked team in the AP Top 25 poll.
• Auburn’s Johni Broome scored only eight points, his second straight game in single digits.
• Tahaad Pettiford led Auburn with 19 points, including six 3-pointers.

As the dust settles on this thrilling encounter, Texas A&M fans will undoubtedly savor this historic victory. The Aggies have shown that they can compete with the best, and this win will surely boost their confidence as they head into the final stretch of the season. Meanwhile, Auburn will need to regroup and address the issues that led to their downfall in this game. With the SEC title already in hand, the Tigers will look to bounce back and regain their momentum as they prepare for the upcoming challenges.