Sports

Auburn Basketball Coach Hunts Down Referee After Losing Game He Shouldn’t Have

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by
Steven Pearl, Auburn Tigers

© Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


The Auburn basketball team fell to Houston on Sunday in non-conference action, 73-72. Tigers head coach Steven Pearl was irate in the final moments of that close loss.

Pearl was seen hunting down a referee following a no-call on the final play of the game. He was upset about losing a game he shouldn’t have.

The head coach is in his first season leading the program, replacing his father after an offseason retirement.

Those are big shoes to fill with Auburn making a Final Four run last year. His goal is to continue that momentum with immediate success.

The Tigers picked up three quick wins to start the season against lesser out of league foes. The competition took a step up in Game 4.

Houston made the national title game in 2024 where it fell just short of a championship. The Cougars currently own the top spot in the AP Poll.

They entered as 7.5-point favorites against the Tigers this weekend. They would escape by the slimmest of margins. Auburn’s head coach was unhappy with the final result.

Steven Pearl berated an official.

Trailing by a point on the final possession, Auburn attempted a quick shot off an inbound pass to the paint. Pearl believed his player was fouled while trying to make a play. Referees swallowed their whistles.

The coach exploded from his spot on the sidelines, walking across the court to hunt the official down. He was escorted back to the locker room by a player after given the crew a piece of his mind.

Foul or no foul, Auburn did not get a chance to win the game. Pearl’s frustration won’t change the final outcome.

In the end, it shouldn’t have come down to the last possession. The Tigers had ample opportunity to win.

Auburn lost a basketball game it shouldn’t have.

The team stats were largely even on each side, which makes sense given the final score.

Auburn shot 39% from the field. Houston shot 43%. Both teams hit seven three pointers. Rebounds and turnovers were nearly deadlocked.

There was one area, however, that was drastically skewed in the Tigers’ favor. They could not capitalize.

Auburn outshot Houston at the free throw line 33-12. The team connected on just 64% of those attempts. The Cougars, meanwhile, were 83% from the charity stripe. They needed each and every point.

Most found it ironic that Steven Pearl begged for a call on the final play given the large disparity. Houston was called for 23 fouls to Auburn’s 14.

Had the Tigers taken advantage of their opportunities at the line, they would’ve walked away with the win. Instead, they returned home with an “L” after watching their head coach throw a temper tantrum.