One of the few highs of Auburn’s SEC season came just before its lowest low.

Just four days after overcoming a 19-point deficit to beat Mississippi State, the Tigers laid an egg on the road against the Bulldogs’ rival Ole Miss, giving up the most points of the season and suffering their most lopsided loss since 2005.

Tony Barbee hopes his team has a short memory.

“You just have to chalk it up as a loss, move on from it and try to learn,” Barbee said. “It was just one of those games where they played exceptionally well, and we played very poor.”

Auburn struggled again offensively — which, Barbee said earlier in the year, would be a “theme of the season” — but the young Tigers’ defensive effort had to trouble their coach even more.

The team seemed a step slow all night rotating out to cover the Rebels’ shooters and it paid dearly, as the Rebels shot 56.8 percent from the field — including a 70-percent second half — and hit 13-of-25 from 3-point range.

No. 18 Vanderbilt (19-6, 7-4 SEC), which the Tigers (9-16, 2-9) welcome to Auburn Arena today at 3 p.m., is another team that can be lethal if left open.

The Commodores rank first in the SEC in points per game (77.6), fourth in field goal percentage (45.6) and second in 3-point percentage (39.1).

They also happen to have the conference’s leading scorer in 6-foot-4 sophomore guard John Jenkins coming in at 19.8 points per game and three other starters — 6-7 forward Jeffery Taylor (14.3), 6-11 center Festus Ezeli (12.6) and 6-3 guard Brad Tinsley (10.6) — averaging double figures.

“Vanderbilt is one of the top teams in our league,” Barbee said. “They are an experienced team that went to the NCAA Tournament last year. I think they are very, very good defensively. Vanderbilt is excellent shooting the ball from 3-point range and have several players who shoot it at a high percentage.”

The Commodores have won four straight games and seven out of their last nine, including hard-fought, close victories over Kentucky, Alabama and Georgia, teams near the top of the SEC standings.

In short, reversing the trend started at Ole Miss will be a tough task for the Tigers.

“I think they are starting to peak at the right time heading into March,” Barbee said.

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No. 18 Vanderbilt (19-6, 7-4) at Auburn (9-16, 2-9)

Where: Auburn Arena

When: 3 p.m.

Radio/TV: WKKR (97.7 FM)/SEC Network (Channel 8 and/or 12)

Projected starters, Vanderbilt: F Jeffery Taylor, 6-7, Jr. (14.3 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.4 apg); F Rod Odom, 6-9, Fr. (4.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 0.6 spg); C Festus Ezeli, 6-11, Jr. (12.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 2.3 bpg); G Brad Tinsley, 6-3, Jr. (10.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.5 apg); G John Jenkins, 6-4, So. (19.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.1 apg)

Projected starters, Auburn: F Allen Payne, 6-6, Fr. (6.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.0 spg); F Kenny Gabriel, 6-8, Jr. (9.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 0.9 bpg); F Adrian Forbes, 6-8, Jr. (3.8 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.6 bpg); G Josh Wallace, 5-10, So. (5.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.8 apg); G Earnest Ross, 6-5, So. (13.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.2 apg)