The No. 25 Auburn Tigers battled No. 2 Houston down to the wire, but could not pull off the upset in Birmingham.

The Auburn Tigers, meanwhile, have made wholesale changes. Guard Tahaad Pettiford, who started one game last year, is the only returning rotation player. Now a starter, he’s currently fifth on this year’s team in scoring.

It came down to the final possession, but Auburn basketball couldn't find the go-ahead basket it needed, falling to No. 2 Houston in dramatic fashion.

Auburn fans sold out Legacy Arena as Auburn basketball hosted No.1 Houston in the Rx Benefits Battleground 2K25 inside Legacy Arena. It was a back-and-forth battle between two elite programs, as Houston escaped with an 73-72 victory over Auburn.

Freshman point guard Kingston Flemings scored 22 points, Chris Cenac Jr. had 18 points and nine rebounds and top-ranked Houston held on for a 73-72 victory over No. 22 Auburn on Sunday.

Auburn’s young squad will get exposed by the veteran Cougars in this one. Unlike last year, the Tigers are a much smaller team, and that won’t bode well against one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country. I expect Auburn to keep it close behind the raucous crowd at Legacy Arena, but it won’t be enough.

Auburn may have lost 73-72, but it showed promising signs that give fans hope for the rest of the year. The Tigers showed great fight and resilience against one of the nation’s best programs and a Hall of Fame head coach, and considering the circumstances of both squads, the Tigers will only continue to improve.

Auburn basketball may have surprised some against Houston on Sunday, but not Steven Pearl, who said that "moral victories are for losers" postgame.