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A chaotic scene unfolded at Auburn University on Tuesday night when a wild buzzer beater was waved off well after the Tigers had celebrated on their own court.
With 0.6 seconds left and Auburn trailing 90-88, KeShawn Murphy, who was somehow wide open, caught an inbound pass and hit a long 3-pointer for what was believed to be the game-winner.
But the referees went to the scorer’s table to review the play, which was awfully close.
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Auburn Tigers players watch the replay of a possible game-winning shot that was called back as the Auburn Tigers take on the Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Jake Crandall/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Ultimately, officials ruled the shot hadn’t gone off in time, ending the Tigers’ celebration and getting one from Texas A&M.
The officials quickly made public enemy number one and were pelted with trash from fans on their way off the field. At least one judge needed his head covered.
One fan sitting courtside even turned his back and threw his drink over his shoulder aimed at an official.
“They didn’t say a word. They just said it wasn’t good and ran off the floor. I probably wouldn’t want to talk to me at that moment, anyway,” Auburn head coach Steven Pearl, who took over for his father, Bruce this season, said after the game. “So I understand why they ran away from me. Just from the angles I saw, it looked like it was off his fingers. But it was just, I don’t have all the same angles that they have.”
Texas A&M Aggies players celebrate the victory as the Auburn Tigers take on the Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena in Auburn, Alabama, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026. (Jake Crandall/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
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It is now six losses in their last 10 games for the Tigers after starting 5-1. They lost in the Final Four last year to Florida, who won the national championship over Houston.
Auburn (9-6, 0-2) led 47-37 at halftime and extended the margin to 61-45 with 12:29 left.
KeShawn Murphy of the Auburn Tigers reacts after officials ruled his last-second shot did not beat the shot clock to win the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Neville Arena on January 6, 2026 in Auburn, Alabama. (Stew Milne/Getty Images)
Texas A&M responded with a steady run fueled by outside shooting and took its first lead at 8:42 when Pop Isaacs buried a 3-pointer. The Aggies followed with back-to-back triples from Isaacs to open a five-point cushion they wouldn’t relinquish by the skin of their teeth.
