Bruce Pearl calls for better production from bench players

Bruce Pearl made one substitute in the final 10 minutes of Auburn‘s 78-74 win over Ole Miss. Four of his five starters averaged over 30 minutes, while guards Zep Jasper and KD Johnson traded minutes with 20 a piece.

“I don’t like to do it,” Pearl said postgame of the lack of subs. “Like I said earlier, I want the bench to play better so I don’t have to do that.”

All but eight of Auburn’s points against the Rebels came from Pearl’s starting lineup. He played five bench players, three of which logged at least 10 minutes. Johnson finished with a bench-high four points, while Dylan Cardwell and Tre Donaldson combined for the rest of the reserve’s production.

Lior Berman played 10 minutes, didn’t take a shot and grabbed three rebounds. Chris Moore did the same with seven minutes and one rebound — not to mention the two fouls a piece each player committed.

Still, with essetially four players leading the charge, Auburn was able to pull out the win at home to improve to 19-9 on the season and 9-6 in conference play.

Auburn will turn its attention toward Kentucky up next when they travel to Rupp Arena for a big-time SEC matchup on Saturday. With two ranked matchups occupying the final two games of the Tigers’ schedule, a road game at Rupp Arena is oddly their best bet to earn its 20th win of the season.

Tip-off between the Tigers and Wildcats is set for 4 p.m. ET live on CBS. Auburn can move into the top four in the SEC standings with a victory over the Wildcats, which will give them an opportunity for a BYE into the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament next month if they can close out the rest of the regular season on a high note.