The Merrimack Warriors hit the road to face the 20th-ranked Auburn Tigers on Thursday night.
Auburn Looks to Find Its Footing After a Shaky Start
Merrimack enters 0-1 after falling to South Dakota State, while Auburn escaped with an overtime win against Bethune-Cookman to start 1-0.
Game Details
TV Schedule: Thursday, November 6, 2025 – 7:00 pm CT, SEC Network
Arena: Neville Arena, Auburn, Alabama
Merrimack struggled defensively in its opener, allowing 75 points in the nine-point loss. Tye Dorset led the Warriors with 19 points, while Todd Brogna added three assists. Competing out of the MAAC, Merrimack is looking for its first win after just three league teams opened the season victorious.
Head coach Joe Gallo, now in his ninth season, guided the Warriors to an 18-15 record last year, including 14-6 in conference play. Merrimack reached the MAAC semifinals after an overtime win over Sacred Heart but fell by two to Mount St. Mary’s. Gallo, a three-time regular season conference champion and former NEC Coach of the Year, continues to keep Merrimack competitive despite roster turnover.
Last year’s top scorers, Adam Clark and Matt Becht, have moved on, leaving Dorset to lead the way with help from Ernest Shelton, Andres Marrero, and Kavair Kennedy.
Stephen Pearl’s Tigers Look for Defensive Answers
Auburn, now led by Stephen Pearl after his father Bruce’s retirement, narrowly avoided an opening night upset. The Tigers won 95-90 in overtime after allowing Bethune-Cookman to push them throughout regulation.
Transfer guard Keyshawn Hall led the way with 28 points, while KeShawn Murphy (17), Sebastian Williams-Adams (15), Kevin Overton (13), and Tahaad Pettiford (11) all reached double figures.
Auburn finished 32-6 a season ago, reaching the Final Four before falling to Florida. The Tigers lost key veterans Johnni Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara, leaving Pearl to rebuild around new faces.
Prediction: Tigers Win, But Questions Remain
Auburn should win comfortably, but it needs to tighten up defensively and show more consistency. Merrimack’s offense may find early success before the Tigers’ depth and athleticism take over.
Final Score Prediction: Auburn 80, Merrimack 65