AUBURN, Ala. — No. 2 Auburn (13-1, 1-0) defeated Missouri (11-3, 0-1) 84-68 Saturday in the SEC opener. Missouri battled with Auburn throughout, but Auburn controlled the game from nearly start to finish.
Auburn entered Saturday’s game concerned about how Missouri’s defense and length might affect its top-rated offense. Those concerns were quickly alleviated, however. Auburn shot 57% from the field and 47% from three-point range.
“We have some great shooters on the team, Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, Chad Baker, and when we get hot Johni Broome,” senior forward Chaney Johnson said. “So it’s just like we share the ball. We love each other and we trust each other as well.”
Johni Broome led the way for Auburn with 24 points. He was not alone in scoring double-digits, though. Four other Tigers joined him in that regard. Chaney Johnson scored 13 points on an incredibly efficient night from the field. Chad Baker-Mazara added 13 of his own, shooting two for three from three-point range. Auburn’s two point guards, Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford, each score ten.
Auburn built its lead midway through the first half and never looked back. The home Tigers scored 45 points in the 1st half after catching fire from beyond the arc. Seven different Auburn players made a three-point shot in the first half. When Auburn is hot like that it is hard to beat them.
The offensive onslaught continued in the second half, but this time Auburn scored more in the paint with its front-court of Johni Broome and Chaney Johnson. Any way you want to defend Auburn, it has an answer. Take away the threes and the Tigers will attack you in the paint. Take away the paint and Auburn will make threes. Auburn showed its offensive versatility once again Saturday.
“You play (Johni) one on one he’s going to take advantage of you,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “You go down and get him too often, he’s going to kick it out, and we’re going to beat you from three.”
On the defensive end, Auburn held Missouri well below its season average of 87 points per game. Auburn held Missouri to 38% from the field and 30% from three. Auburn also held Missouri’s leading scorer, Mark Mitchell to a mere six points.
“I thought we did a pretty good job of defending Missouri and trying not to foul because those guys do a great job of getting to the line and driving into contact,” Pearl said. “I thought we did a pretty good job.”
After extending the lead to 26 midway through the second half, Auburn played a few sloppy minutes allowing Missouri to cut the lead to under 20. However, the game was well out of reach at that point. Auburn took care of business in the SEC opener. One down, 17 more to go.
“We travel on Monday to go to Austin, Texas, so it’s a shorter prep,” Pearl said. “We’ll get ourselves ready to go.”
Next up, Auburn will travel to Austin to take on Texas. The tip-off is set for 8:00 PM. The game will air on the Auburn Sports Network and ESPN2.
