Why coach Bruce Pearl said Auburn basketball's matchup with Missouri is a 'must-win' game
AUBURN — With just six regular-season games remaining for Auburn basketball, coach Bruce Pearl knows each one has a heightened importance.
He even went as far as to say his team's next matchup against Missouri on Tuesday (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2) is one they can't afford to lose.
"This is a must-win for us," Pearl said. "So, along those lines, one of the things you hear over the course of the year from folks is: 'Man, I just can't get any tickets to games, they're all sold out.' And they are. But there are standing-room tickets available for tomorrow. Being a Tuesday, 6 o'clock game, it wouldn't surprise me, especially after having a big game against Alabama on Saturday, if we do have some no-shows.
"If we do have some no-shows, we'll move standing room down into seats. ... I think there's going to be tickets available."
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Pearl also asked season-ticket holders that can't attend the game to log into their accounts and transfer their tickets via email to someone who can show up: "That's a really, really simple way of doing it. I'd like to get that out so that we can make sure all of our tickets can be used."
Tennessee currently sits No. 3 in the conference standings with an 8-4 mark. Auburn (17-8), Kentucky and Missouri (19-6) closely trail at 7-5, and Arkansas, Florida and Vanderbilt are 6-6 in the SEC.
"The winner tomorrow could potentially wake up in third place. ... There's a lot in the mix," Pearl said.
Pearl added that with Valentine's Day falling on the same night as his team's game, the Tigers will have a raffle for "some Under Armour gear, maybe a flat screen or an Xbox."
"Now, normally we don't have to do those things for men's basketball. ... But it's vital," Pearl said. "I'm calling out The Jungle tomorrow. I'm calling out our season-ticket holders to use their tickets and give their tickets away, and give us the best chance we possibly can."
Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn basketball's Bruce Pearl says Missouri is a 'must-win' game
