Takeaways: Auburn loses its first true road test 69-64 to Appalachian State

What can we take away from Auburn's 69-64 loss to Appalachian State?

Auburn hit the road for its first true road test and lost a close one to the Appalachian State Mountaineers. 

There is a lot this basketball team needs to work on and continue to improve on before SEC play begins soon. 

What can we take away from Auburn's 69-64 loss to Appalachian State on the road? 

Auburn was bad at the charity stripe

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Making free throws is extremely important when it comes to winning a basketball game, and the Tigers struggled at the charity stripe in this game. Auburn was 9-19 from the free throw line in this game. Starting center Johni Broome was 1-7 from the line in this contest. Broome will be at the line a lot this year based on his play style, so he needs to make them. It's hard to win a game late when you can't get the free points. 

Aden Holloway is in a slump

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Aden Holloway started hot from beyond the arc this season but has since cooled off. Holloway, being a smaller guard, lives and dies by the three, and he hasn't been making them over these past few games. Holloway did have eight points in this game but was 0-6 from deep and only had two assists. Bruce Pearl will keep letting Holloway shoot as he should, but the freshman needs to start finding nylon. 

Auburn couldn't buy a three

Eric Starling/Auburn Daily

Auburn was 3-27 from deep in this game, which can not happen ever. At some point, if you aren't making threes, you have to try and score around the rim. But it also hurts that Auburn struggled to make free throws because if you take a get the ball to the basket philosophy but can make the free ones, what good does it do you? This Auburn team needs to start making more open threes, and if they aren't falling, stop jacking them up and take the ball to the rim. This Auburn team will be okay, and is incredibly talented, but they need to know when to stop shooting.

What's next? 

Auburn will play the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday, December 9th, in Atlanta, Georgia, where the Tigers will look to bounce back from a tough road loss. 

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