When he sat down for his post game press conference, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl didn’t need to say anything to make it clear he was not happy with how his team had played in the second half during an 84-54 win over Alabama A&M on Tuesday. When Pearl began to speak, his voice was hoarse — indicative of the yelling which assuredly occurred during and after a second half where Auburn was outscored 39-34.

Pearl wanted to see his team play a full 40 minutes, especially after taken a commanding 49-15 lead at halftime. But they didn’t. It follows in with a theme for Auburn throughout this season.

It played well in the first half against Baylor, but not the second. It played well in the second half against Notre Dame, but not the first. It played well in the first half against St. Bonaventure, but not the second. It played well in the first half against Alabama A&M, but not the second.

Only one of those second half falters cost Auburn — the loss to Baylor.

“Great first half here tonight,” Pearl said. “But we haven’t put two together, so that’s for me to figure out.”

Pearl then noticed the key statistical difference between the halves: a 13-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio in the first half and 6-to-12 in the second half.

“I’m disappointed, but I wish I was surprised,” Pearl said. “I’m not.”

Auburn has played well enough in first halves to be among the nation’s leaders in assist rate and assists per game largely boosted by its early offense. Auburn has scored 39 or more points in every single first half it has played this season.

Averaging more than 20 assists per game entering the night, Auburn was in the top 15 nationally and the best in the SEC. It shared the ball again Tuesday. Auburn’s first seven baskets in a row were all assisted as well as 10 of Auburn’s first 11 makes.

Nine of Auburn’s 10 main rotational players scored. Eight of them had an assist. Six had more than one. Forward Chad Baker-Mazara led the way with six.

Chaney Johnson led Auburn with 15 points, but was one of the two players in Auburn’s first 10 without an assist.

“Ball hog,” center Dylan Cardwell said to Johnson during the post game press conference.

“I’m in my Kobe era,” Johnson responded.

Auburn jumped out to another quick start with a 12-0 run to begin the game. The lead grew to the massive halftime margin with focused, energized Auburn play on both ends of the floor.

Auburn has led at halftime in all five games its played. Its smallest halftime lead was six against Notre Dame after arguably Auburn’s worst half of the year before playing by far its best second half in an eventual 83-59 win.

Pearl hasn’t left an Auburn game fully pleased yet because Auburn has failed to play a full 40 minutes.

Cardwell said after the Tuesday’s win that Auburn had discussed going after an assists record. But the team played so casually in the second half that it essentially gave up any opportunity.

Auburn allowed an 18-3 second half run to Alabama A&M and had a stretch of four turnovers in three minutes. Cardwell and guard Tre Donaldson each had three second half turnovers. Six other Auburn players had a turnover in the second half, too.

Whereas Auburn’s first half offense had been crisp and reliant on ball movement, the second half was sloppy and lacking effort. In all of Auburn’s poor second half performances, that has been a theme causing diminished offensive outputs: Auburn gets out to a big lead and rests on its seemingly comfortable in its margin.

Only playing 20 minutes up to Pearl’s standards each game has worked against Notre Dame, St. Bonaventure and Alabama A&M. Despite only playing one half well, Auburn has won each of those games comfortably. It very nearly beat Baylor, the best team Auburn has played this year, despite playing a poor second half.

It’s a flash of how good Pearl’s team can be. And a flash of the weaknesses Pearl still has weeks of nonconference play to figure out.

“Valuing possessions, it’s just about valuing possessions,” Pearl said. “And about executing. That first half team can win some games. That second half team couldn’t win an SEC game. Not a one.”

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]