Auburn basketball defeated USC with ease in their home game, showcasing their strength with a 91-75 triumph. The Tigers took an early lead and kept it throughout the game, encouraged by a lively Neville Arena crowd.

USC men’s basketball suffered a loss to Auburn, despite Boogie Ellis’ impressive 22-point performance. Isaiah Collier contributed 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting and dished out three assists, while Oziyah Sellers scored 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting off the bench.

Auburn had a strong shooting performance, with a 52.9 percent field goal percentage, leaving USC struggling to find answers. The Tigers’ dominant 24-7 run in the first half effectively sealed the game.

Despite a brief 11-3 run by the Trojans in the second half, Auburn’s lead was never truly threatened. The Tigers maintained control, preventing USC from closing the gap to single digits.

Jabari Smith Jr. of the Houston Rockets trolled USC by praising Auburn, as he wrote on Twitter, “War Eagle! Hard to come in that jungle and win,” mentioning the battle cry of Auburn Tigers.

Auburn’s mascot is a tiger, but the “War Eagle” cry signifies eagle. The tale of the “War Eagle” cry dates back to 1892, when the Tigers defeated Georgia. There was a Civil War soldier there at the game with his eagle among the gathering of onlookers. The eagle eventually got loose and flew around the stadium, and that’s when the Tigers took the victory.

However, the eagle did not make it through the moment. It crashed into the earth and was destroyed. Nevertheless, its legacy endures.