Michigan hammers Auburn by 30 in Vegas’ Player Era Festival

Michigan hammers Auburn by 30 in Vegas’ Player Era Festival originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Las Vegas has a funny way of exposing teams. You can hide your flaws for a week, maybe two — but drop into a 24-hour turnaround against a real heavyweight, and whatever you are comes spilling out like a jackpot hit on the slots. On Tuesday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena, No. 7 Michigan walked in like a team that’s already figured out who it is. No. 21 Auburn walked in like a team trying to convince itself.

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And by halftime, the convincing was over.

All the pregame noise pointed to coaching. Dusty May — “one of the best coaches in America,” hardened by tournament runs and short-prep chaos — against Stephen Pearl, coaching in his first real high-major pressure cooker. In a 24-hour prep window, the consensus was simple: fewer details, more clarity, execution above everything. Advantage Michigan.

Add in the Wolverines’ length, their true-road win at TCU, their 90.6 points per game, and their 50% shooting entering the night, and you could see why Vegas leaned Michigan -3.5. You could also see why it wasn’t nearly enough.

Michigan didn’t ease into anything — they detonated. An 11–2 run out of the gate. Ball pinging around like a pinball machine. Auburn opening 0-for-6. Tahaad Pettiford was the Tigers’ entire early offense — seven points while Michigan already had 17.

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Auburn shot 17% in the opening stretch. Michigan? 51% for the game (35-of-68 FG). By the midpoint of the half, Michigan had six assists to Auburn’s two. The Tigers couldn’t run, couldn’t shift Michigan’s length, couldn’t find a rhythm in the halfcourt. Coming out of a timeout, Keyshawn Hall briefly resuscitated Auburn with seven straight points to cut it to 26–17 — but it was a raindrop in a storm.

Michigan’s shooters drilled 14-of-35 threes (40%). Auburn made 10-of-24 from deep (42%) but…

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Publish date : 2025-11-26 05:20:00

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