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Bruce Pearl gives mixed reaction to Auburn overtime win over Bethune-Cookman

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh14 hours agogriffin_mcveigh
Bruce Pearl (Photo by Auburn Athletics)
Bruce Pearl (Photo by Auburn Athletics)

For the first time since March 2014, someone other than Bruce Pearl is in charge of the Auburn Tigers. The legendary head coach retired just ahead of the 2025-2026 season, leaving the program in the hands of his son, Steven. Monday brought the official tip-off of that era, hosting Bethune-Cookman at home.

Things were a little closer than anyone wanted inside Neville Arena. Auburn wound up winning the game but needed overtime to do so, 95-90. Not the way anybody drew up the season opener but a result Auburn will take and run with.

After the final buzzer sounded, Pearl provided everyone with a mixed reaction on X. “Boom,” he wrote, followed up with an emoji with its eyes rolling. Pearl likely speaks for every Auburn fan out there, not too sure what to think right now.

Pearl did not get to get be in attendance to watch, instead working his new gig at TNT. An incredible double header taking place in Las Vegas brought most of the college basketball world’s attention. Arizona took down Florida in the first game and at the time of writing, BYU finds itself up on Villanova at halftime. TNT has Pearl working as a host on a panel for pregame, halftimes, and eventually, halftime.

Of course, his job is to pay attention to the games he will eventually talk about on television. But Pearl would not miss his son’s head coaching debut for anything. He might just be hoping for a little more comfort moving forward.

More on Auburn taking down Bethune-Cookman in overtime

This one was close throughout the entire 40 minutes. Auburn held just a one-point lead going into the break, 38-37. Most thought the game was wrapped up with seconds remaining, up three. However, a shooting foul around midcourt meant Artero Morris got three free throws. He drilled them, requiring five more minutes.

Keyshawn Hall ended the night as Auburn’s top scorer, going for 28 points in 38 minutes played. Rebounding turned out to be quite even, Bethune-Cookman losing the battle by one with 31 total. They shot it well from three all night, making 12 of 22.

Auburn did a great job getting to the free throw line, getting 38 shots from the charity stripe. Steven Pearl will want to see a few more of those go through, though, as the Tigers made just 27 of them for a percentage of 71.1%.