By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com
Bruce Pearl figures Auburn's trip to Mexico was a split decision over basketball teams with a real shot to make the NCAA Tournament.
The Tigers beat Texas Tech on Tuesday, but then ran into red-hot No. 17 Purdue on Wednesday, falling 96-71 under a barrage of 3-point shooting in the finals of the Cancun Challenge. The Boilermakers hit 17 3-pointers and out-rebound Auburn 39-23.
Auburn was in it at halftime, trailing 43-41. An 18-2 Purdue run in the second half changed all of that. The Tigers and Purdue each left the court with 4-1 records.