Sullivan’s 24 points not enough as Tigers can’t overcome fouls, turnovers

Frankie Sullivan scored 24 points as Auburn lost to Tennessee on Wednesday.
Credit: Lauren Barnard

AUBURN — Frankie Sullivan was back to his old self, taking over the game and giving Auburn the lead.

The Uniontown, Ala. native converted a pair of three-point plays in a span of 26 seconds during the second half to give Auburn a three-point lead but the Tigers could not hold on.

Despitea a yeoman’s effort from Sullivan who scored 24 points, his most in 14 games, he also committed a career-high seven turnovers and a season-high 14 points from Josh Wallace, both seniors fouled out in their final home game as Auburn could not overcome a difference of 26 free throws losing to Tennessee, 82-75, before an announced crowd of 5,420 at Auburn Arena Wednesday night. It was the eighth straight loss and 14th in 15 games for Auburn (9-21, 3-14 SEC), matching its worst stretch in a single season since 1942-43.

“I’ve never seen a stat sheet like this. Where we have four more field goals, two more threes and a team takes 26 more foul shots than you do,” said Auburn coach Tony Barbee, who dropped to 35-57 overall and 12-37 in SEC play at Auburn. “I’m not making any assumption on it, opinion on it, it’s the difference in the game.

“They shoot 38 foul shots and we shoot 12. It’s the difference in the game.”

Auburn needs a win at Mississippi State on Saturday to avoid finishing in last place in the conference and facing the No. 11 seed in the opening round of the SEC Tournament next Wednesday in Nashville. A Tigers win over the Bulldogs would ensure a spot in the No. 12-13 matchup.

Sullivan’s two three-point plays gave Auburn a 55-52 lead with 12:23 to go. The teams traded baskets and Sullivan’s final bucket made it 64-62 Tennessee with 7:23 to go.

“I’ve been really aggressive tonight and the shots were falling for me,” said Sullivan, who was 9-for-20 from the field. “About time they did.”

The Volunteers went on a 13-2 run to blow the game open and Sullivan fouled out on a questionable call with 2:22 to go. It appeared Tennessee goaltended but Sullivan was called for a charge.

“I definitely thought they called a goaltend but it was a charge,” Sullivan said. “I don’t argue with the ref, they referee the game, we play the game.”

Sullivan was more upset with his seven turnovers. Tennessee (18-11, 10-7 SEC) scored 22 points off 16 Auburn turnovers.

“I had seven turnovers easily led to them easily getting 14 points,” Sullivan said. “You can’t win the ball game like that. You take my seven turnovers away we probably win the ball game.”

Jordan McRae and Trae Golden each scored 21 points and Jarnell Stokes had 11 points and 12 rebounds for Tennessee.

Chris Denson did not play for Auburn. Barbee said “his back tightened up on him.”

For just the eleventh time this season Auburn led at halftime, taking advantage of a 1-for-9 shooting stretch by Tennessee to close the first half ahead 35-32.

But as has been the case so many times in this dreadful season, Auburn could not hold on.

“Wanted to go out with a win,” Wallace said. “It hurts. I wanted this one, the whole team wanted this, everybody wanted this one.”

Notes:

All five seniors started in their final home game including walk-on Dylan Spencer, who made the game’s first basket, a three-pointer. It was the first career points for Spencer. … Jordan Price (nine points) was 3-for-3 from three-point range, his best outing since Dec. 18. … Former Auburn running back Onterio McCalebb was the celebrity letter. … The attendance was the second-fewest for an SEC home game at Auburn Arena this season