AUBURN, Ala. – No. 1 Auburn took down Ole Miss Tuesday night in a game that restored confidence in the dominance of this Auburn team after recent home scares. Chad Baker-Mazara proved that he is nothing short of a necessity for the Tigers on offense as he took over from beyond the arc to get Auburn out to an early lead.
Baker-Mazara and Johni Broome lead the way for Auburn with a dominant show of their offensive abilities. Broome finished with 24 points after a 16-point first half that saw him eclipse the 2,500-point mark for his career. Broome just missed out on a double-double posting nine boards as part of his big night. Baker-Mazara finished with 22 points but more importantly, shot eight of 12 from the field and made four of his five three-point attempts.
“Those are two of our best players for sure,” said head Coach Pearl “I thought our transition defense left a lot to be desired.”
Auburn’s rebounding was dominant for a second time this season against Ole Miss including 10 offensive rebounds that turned into 14 second-chance points certainly not the difference but a factor in the dominant win.
“Size matters,” Coach Pearl said of the difference between the teams. “We are bigger.”
This win that saw Auburn post their highest total in the SEC in years was certainly an offensive-focused matchup. Ole Miss shot 47 percent from the field, put up 76 points, and took care of the ball with just ten turnovers, despite eight Auburn blocks, Ole Miss showed out offensively but could not get it done on the defensive end.
Auburn’s dominance comes from their ability to win in a variety of ways and tonight they showed that with their offensive explosion tonight. The Tigers shot under 60 percent from the field and over 52 percent from three to shoot their way past an offensive-powered team in Ole Miss.
Auburn not only dominated from beyond the arc but also in the paint with 44 paint points. It may not seem to be a huge factor, teams are expected to perform well in the paint, especially with the best center in the country, but it's this paint dominance that opens up the three-point shooting that puts away opponents.
Broome came into the night as the slight favorite for the Wooden Award and certainly increased his odds with his performance tonight. Watching the flow of Auburn's offense he is the, with no doubt, the catalyst he runs the show for Auburn but coupled with his impressive double-doubles is his slept-on ability to distribute. Broome has a sixth sense for where his teammates will be and although he may not post as many assists as points or rebounds, he posted four tonight, his knack for finding teammates for at times highlight plays is what separates him from the pack.
Next up for Auburn is a visit to Lexington where they can clinch the SEC regular season title with a win.
