AUBURN, Ala. - After a dominating trip to the Big Apple, the Auburn Men’s Basketball team was back inside Neville Arena on Tuesday Night, hosting the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. The game was never really close, as the Tigers raced out to a 49-15 halftime lead, ultimately defeating the bulldogs by a score of 84-54.
One of the biggest surprises came well before the ball was tipped, as Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl announced a starting lineup that was drastically different from any we have seen so far this season.
Most notably, Senior center Dylan Cardwell was inserted into the starting five over the Junior center Johni Broome, who had started the first four games for the Tigers. Cardwell finished the game as the leading rebounder on both sides, racking up nine over the course of the game.
“Just doing my role,” said Cardwell. “Whether it’s playing 20 minutes or 10 minutes, and realizing that my role for this team is to be a high energy guy. I just fly around and make plays.”
Auburn used a number of huge first half scoring runs to set the tone early. After jumping out to a 12 to nothing lead to start the ballgame, the Tigers went on a 19 point run late in the first half to take a commanding 47-14 lead.
“BP wanted us to go out there and start on fire,” said Cardwell on the hot start. “We knew they were a good team, and we didn’t want to give them any hope.”
The depth of Pearl’s squad was once again on full display against the bulldogs, as 11 different Tigers got in on the scoring barrage. Auburn would finish with a massive 49 points off the bench, putting four players in double digit scoring.
“The first five we start with or the first five off the bench can start,” said Junior UAH transfer Chaney Johnson. “That’s how deep we are. That played a big role.”
While the scoring did come from a variety of players, Johnson was able to turn in an impressive individual effort. He would finish the night as the team's leading scorer. Johnson not only scored, but did so efficiently, dropping 15 points on 6-for-8 shooting.
Tuesday night also marked the first time Johnson scored in double figures in a Tiger uniform. He would shatter his early season high in scoring by 11 points.
Though a quick glance at the scoreboard might make it seem as a fairly flawless game for the Tigers, Alabama A&M outscored Auburn 39-35 in a sloppy second half.
“We had a big lead, and we played really well in the first half,” said Pearl. “We did not guard the second half. We did not share the ball in the second half. We just did not play Auburn basketball.”
These are things that Auburn will certainly need to clean up, as they prepare for a gauntlet to close out their non-conference schedule. Three of the Tigers next five match ups will be away from Neville Arena, and two will feature Power Five opponents in Virginia Tech and USC.
“The next five opponents are all NCAA caliber teams,” said Pearl. “Hosting an ACC team in Virginia Tech, that’s going to be a war.”
That game against Virginia Tech will take place next Wednesday in Neville Arena as a part of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Tip off is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. CT and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2.
