Report: Auburn's Jahki Howard, Ja'Heim Hudson Won't Travel After Near-Fight on Plane

Auburn basketball players Jahki Howard and Ja'Heim Hudson reportedly won't travel for the team's game against Houston on Saturday night following an altercation Friday.

On3's Justin Hokanson and ESPN's Jeff Borzello both reported that the Tigers will be without the reserve forwards.

Borzello previously reported that Auburn's scheduled flight to Houston was grounded Friday after two Tigers players got into a scuffle. The incident was said to have been "over before it escalated into anything serious."

Field of 68's Jeff Goodman characterized the antics as "some really strong-ass horseplay."

Howard is a 6'6" freshman from Boston who was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 61 overall prospect in the 2024 recruiting class.

In the Tigers' 94-43 season-opening win over Vermont on Wednesday, he recorded seven points, four rebounds, one block and one steal in 20 minutes.

Hudson is a senior transfer who played at Georgia State and SMU before making the move to Auburn this season.

After averaging 5.4 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest in 31 games at SMU last season, Hudson played 15 minutes against Vermont on Wednesday, registering two points, two rebounds and two assists.

Auburn is the No. 11-ranked team in the nation and it is coming off three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances under head coach Bruce Pearl. On Saturday, the Tigers will face their first major test of the season when they face a Houston team ranked No. 4.

The Cougars have won at least 28 games in four consecutive seasons and 30 or more games in each of the past three.

Head coach Kelvin Sampson has led Houston to back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances, as well as a Final Four appearance in 2021 and an Elite Eight berth in 2022.

Like Auburn, the Cougars are 1-0 so far this season, crushing Jackson State 97-40 on Monday.