AUBURN AL- Sometimes guys rise from the Ashes, tonight Allen Flanigan not only rose from the ashes but also like a Phoenix.
Allen Flanigan would lead the No. 15 Auburn Tigers (2-0) to a 67-59 win over the USF Bulls (0-2) after an abysmal first half.
Flanigan finished the game with 18 points four rebounds and an assist another point is that he shot 3-6 from beyond the arc, the only player with multiply made three-pointers.
"It felt good to see shots falling," said Flanigan
Auburn fans came out shaking Neville Arena, but Auburn came out flat going 25% from the field and 53% from the cherry stripe. Auburn was also unable to score on a field goal attempt till eight minutes into the first half.
Allen Flanigan got two threes that stopped the bleeding a small bit, but overall the Bulls were able to dominate the Tigers leading to them leading 30-21 at the half.
The Second half was a totally different story, spearheaded by Wendell Green Jr who was the team’s scoring leader with 20 points, and the team’s defense who only allowed 29 points in the second half.
"Auburn's defense was pretty good," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Right now, that's going to be what's going to have to carry us. We're not really good offensively right now. Our defense is going to have to carry us, and it did tonight."
However, it was Allen Flanigan who got the three that put the Tigers ahead 39-37 with 12:50 left in the second half, Auburn never looked back and ended the game with a 67-59 lead over the Tigers their second win on the young season.
Dylan Cardwell had another great night coming off the bench with seven points, two rebounds, and five blocks making it two games in a row in the block category.
"His effort and energy, his ability to block shots and rebound, Dylan Cardwell was a factor," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "For a man his size, he moves so very well."
USF’s Keyshawn Bryant grabbed his 1,000th career point, after having a ten-point showing only needing eight to reach the milestone.
"I'm glad we got the win over a good team from a really good conference," Pearl said. "I'm glad to get the W."
There are still problems that plague the Tigers through these first two games, Auburn again had a bad night shooting with a field goal percentage of 40%, going 5-25 beyond the arc, and 20-32 at the free throw line overall.
At the end of the day, Auburn had their 25th consecutive home crowd sellout, and 9,129 people saw the Tigers take down the Bulls in what was an enjoyable game from buzzer to buzzer.
The next time Auburn will be in action will be against the Eagles of Winthrop in a Cancun Challenge Non-Bracket game, and will be played in front of 9,129 people in Neville Arena at 6:00pm
