No. 6 Tennessee fell short of a statement win on the road with a 53-51 loss to No. 1 Auburn on Saturday night.
While Tennessee didn’t play its best game, the Vols were never out of it as their defense and toughness kept them within swinging distance. Tennessee and Auburn traded blows throughout an ugly game, but it was the Tigers who came out on top in the final two minutes.
Auburn used a 6-0 run over the final stretch to secure the two-point win over Tennessee.
Tennessee senior guard Zakai Zeigler provided the unsurprising spark that the Vols needed throughout the game. Zeigler finished with a team-high 14 points and was Tennessee’s go-to playmaker late in the game.
More From RTI: Tennessee Basketball Has Reasons For Optimism But Questions Persist After Loss At Auburn
Tennessee Basketball: Three Quick Takeaways As Tennessee Loses Late Lead, Falls At No. 1 Auburn
With the high-profile nature of No. 1 vs No. 6 and the back-and-forth finish in the final minutes, social media was sure to react to this game. See some of the top reactions from social media below:
fought for 40 pic.twitter.com/8I0oTIYhRZ
— Tennessee Basketball (@Vol_Hoops) January 26, 2025
To win a national title, you have to be able to win in different ways.
Auburn proved it could win tonight in the mud.
And Tennessee?
Tougher than the GATES OF HELL. https://t.co/bjLrWaUogN
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) January 26, 2025
Hell of a game at Auburn. Don’t mind Zakai going for the win here. Broome was fantastic. But how in the world did the refs, who were awful down the stretch, miss this blatant Broome walk on the rebound? So bad. pic.twitter.com/GnxlcyYKo6
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 26, 2025
Much respect to Tennessee man that was a heavyweight fight.
This NCAA tournament is gonna be hell. Tennessee is a problem.
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) January 26, 2025
This. Exactly. I personally love this Vols team and still expected them to lose by double digits tonight. https://t.co/ptkgAIbELS
— Reed Carringer (@ReedCarringer) January 26, 2025
Wow, the ending to Tennessee vs. Auburn
That was one gritty basketball game. Hard to be entertained pic.twitter.com/geeiPi7O9f
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) January 26, 2025
Some takeaways from a glorious Saturday:
– Houston’s win at Kansas is the wildest game I can remember. Cougars were in the jaws of defeat multiple times — AT ALLEN FIELDHOUSE. Incredible W.
– Auburn/Tennessee was a heavyweight fight, Miles Kelly is clutch and The Jungle rules
-…— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) January 26, 2025
Retweet this if you’ve been called for a foul in the Auburn vs Tennessee game
— Drunk Aubie (@DrunkAubie) January 26, 2025
🚨 BREAKING:
Auburn becomes the first team in college basketball history to defeat TWO opponents in one game! (Tennessee & SEC officiating) pic.twitter.com/jJAWreIANq
— TorresOnAuburn 🥶 (@TorresOnAuburn) January 26, 2025
Also I think both Tennessee and Auburn fans can agree the SEC refs are dogshit
— Jake “JBOY” Crain (@JakeCrain_) January 26, 2025
You still probably don’t win but that’s 2 SEC losses for Tennessee now where an EXTREMELY blatant call was missed in the final seconds of a one possession game https://t.co/qc95gaDzXq
— Charlie Burris (@Charlie_Burris) January 26, 2025
Good game by Tennessee. Impossible to beat the #1 team at their place and with the refs in their pocket.
— Davey Hudson (@Davey_Hudson) January 26, 2025
Heartbreaker on the plains.
This should tell you all you need to know.
Tennessee is a top tier team. pic.twitter.com/rfc2y8eND8
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) January 26, 2025
As a completely neutral observer, the officiating in this Auburn-Tennessee game is appalling. https://t.co/bpfcGvrWVH
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) January 26, 2025
