The Auburn men’s basketball team shot 56 percent from the floor while five players finished in double figures as the Tigers open the season with a 94-43 win over Vermont.

By forcing 16 turnovers on the Catamounts, the Tigers’ defense held Vermont to its lowest shooting percentage (26%) in coach John Becker’s entire 13-year tenure with the program.

Bruce Pearl loved the defensive effort on display Wednesday night. However, Auburn’s next game at Houston will present a much tougher challenge offensively.

“Well, I thought the best thing is that we keep ourselves safe. I thought it was so important,” Pearl said. “Obviously, Saturday in Houston will be a completely different matchup and a different team, different size, athleticism and physicality.

“We don’t celebrate that. Don’t read too much into it other than I shot it really well and played pretty hard.”

Houston dominated Jackson State 97-40 to start its 2024 campaign. The Cougars have won 23 consecutive home games, marking the longest active streak in the nation.

For Pearl, the No. 4-ranked Cougars are one of the most competitive teams the Tigers will face all season.

“Now the physicality will be different on Saturday. It won’t just be Houston’s first shot at defense. It’s going to be their second-down defense and their third-down defense because they’re going to throw it up there and go get it,” Pearl said.

“So we’re going to put this one behind us quickly, focus on Houston and travel on Friday. To me, Duke, Alabama and Houston are the three best teams in the country right now as I see it.”

Auburn will meet Houston on Saturday inside the Toyota Center as part of the Mattress Firm Battleground 2k24. The game will be televised on ESPNU at 8:30 p.m