Auburn, Ala. – It was supposed to be a tightly contested top-15 SEC showdown to close out the regular season. Instead, it became a statement. On Senior Day at Neville Arena, the No. 8 Auburn Tigers looked every bit the national championship contender they believe themselves to be, blowing out No. 11 LSU 89-61 in a dominant performance that electrified the home crowd and sent a resounding message to the rest of the country.
From the opening tip, Auburn came out with energy, poise, and precision. The Tigers took a 12-2 lead less than five minutes into the game and never looked back. Fueled by a raucous home atmosphere and the emotional spark of honoring a veteran group that’s been the foundation of head coach Bruce Pearl’s program, Auburn played one of its most complete games of the season, dismantling an LSU team that had come in riding high on a five-game winning streak.
Senior Day emotions were riding high even before the game started, as players were greeted by their families at midcourt in a pregame ceremony that left more than a few eyes misty. Senior forward Chaney Johnson, fresh off winning the Oscar Robertson Trophy, was visibly emotional as he received a standing ovation. So was fellow senior K.D. Johnson, who has been a spark plug for Auburn for years and has developed a cult following among the fan base for his tenacious defense and flair for the dramatic.
That emotion carried straight into the game. Auburn’s defense set the tone, suffocating LSU with relentless pressure. The visiting Tigers struggled to even get clean looks at the basket, and when they did, they rarely fell. LSU shot just 36% from the field in the first half and was 2-of-10 from beyond the arc. Auburn, meanwhile, pushed the pace and picked apart LSU’s defense with crisp ball movement and timely shot-making.
It was an ensemble performance for Auburn, but the night belonged to the seniors. Chaney Johnson was nearly unstoppable, finishing with 24 points and 9 rebounds while shooting 10-of-13 from the field. His ability to stretch the floor and overpower defenders in the paint made life miserable for LSU’s frontcourt. Every time LSU tried to make a push, Johnson had an answer—whether it was a corner three, a spin move in the post, or a putback off a missed shot. He played like a man possessed.
K.D. Johnson brought his trademark fire and intensity, turning defense into offense on multiple occasions and finishing with 15 points, 4 steals, and a highlight-reel transition dunk that brought the house down midway through the second half. Dylan Cardwell, another senior who has grown into a key leader, was a force on the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds and anchoring the paint on defense with 3 blocks.
But it wasn’t just the seniors who showed out. Junior point guard Tre Donaldson orchestrated the offense with surgical precision, dishing out 9 assists against just 1 turnover while adding 8 points of his own. Freshman wing Peyton Marshall gave Auburn a boost off the bench with 10 points and 6 rebounds, showcasing the depth that has made the Tigers so dangerous all season long. In total, Auburn had five players in double figures and shot 52% from the field, including 41% from deep.
LSU, meanwhile, looked overwhelmed. The visiting Tigers were led by sophomore guard Tyrell Ward, who finished with 16 points, but he got little help. Star forward Daimion Collins was held to just 9 points and struggled with foul trouble throughout the night. LSU committed 17 turnovers, many of them unforced, and simply couldn’t withstand Auburn’s physicality and pace.
Bruce Pearl called it “the most complete performance we’ve had all year” in his postgame press conference and credited the seniors for setting the tone. “These guys have been the heartbeat of our team,” Pearl said. “They’ve given everything to this program, and to see them go out like this, with this kind of energy and execution, it’s special. They deserve this moment.”
With the win, Auburn improved to 26-5 (14-4 SEC), locking up the No. 2 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament and bolstering its case for a top-two seed in the NCAA Tournament. It was the Tigers’ sixth win in their last seven games and their fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season. More importantly, it was a reminder of just how dangerous this team can be when everything clicks.
For LSU, the loss was a humbling one. After climbing into the top 15 with a string of impressive wins, the Tigers came into Auburn with momentum and confidence. But they left with more questions than answers. Head coach Matt McMahon didn’t mince words afterward, calling it a “gut-check” game and admitting his team “got outplayed in every phase.”
“Auburn played like a team on a mission,” McMahon said. “They were tougher, faster, and more connected. We didn’t match their energy, and it showed. That’s on me. We’ve got to regroup fast.”
The game also underscored the widening gap between the two programs. Auburn has become one of the SEC’s standard-bearers under Pearl, combining elite recruiting with player development and a fan base that transforms Neville Arena into one of the most intimidating venues in college basketball. LSU, still in the early stages of its rebuild under McMahon, has shown flashes but isn’t yet at that level of consistency or toughness.
As the final seconds ticked off the clock and the crowd roared in appreciation, Pearl hugged each of his seniors one by one, lingering a little longer with each embrace. “These guys are like family to me,” he said. “They’ve been through battles, they’ve sacrificed, they’ve represented Auburn the right way. This was their night.”
After the game, the seniors took a victory lap around the arena, high-fiving fans, taking pictures, and soaking in a moment they’ll remember forever. Chaney Johnson, who transferred to Auburn for his final season after starring at UAH, said it was the perfect ending to a dream year.
“I couldn’t have imagined this when I made the decision to come here,” Johnson said. “The fans, the coaches, my teammates—everything has been amazing. To have a night like this, to share it with them, it means everything.”
The road ahead gets tougher. The SEC Tournament looms, followed by the madness of March. Auburn knows that nothing is guaranteed and that every game from here on out will be a battle. But if Saturday night was any indication, the Tigers are rounding into form at just the right time.
The team’s balance, depth, and veteran leadership give them a formula that translates well to postseason play. They defend at an elite level, they rebound as a team, and they have multiple scoring options on any given night. With a player like Chaney Johnson leading the charge and the supporting cast locked in, Auburn has all the tools to make a deep run.
More than anything, the win over LSU served as a reminder of what Auburn basketball has become under Bruce Pearl—relentless, passionate, and unafraid of the moment. On a night meant to honor the past, the Tigers also offered a glimpse of the future: one filled with possibility, belief, and the pursuit of something bigger.
As the confetti settled and the players headed to the locker room, the Auburn faithful remained in their seats, clapping, chanting, and savoring every last second of a night that perfectly blended celebration and domination. And for the seniors who poured their hearts into the program, it was a storybook ending—one chapter closing as another begins.
Senior Day games are often emotional, occasionally bittersweet. But this one? This one was pure joy. For Auburn, it wasn’t just a win. It was a memory, a message, and a mission—rolled into one electric night.