The post was edited to update a score misprint in the headline
The Auburn Tigers have their second victory over a top 5 opponent this season, taking down No. 5 Iowa State in round one of the Maui Invitational, 83-81.
It wasn’t an easy task for the No. 3 ranked Tigers. After Johni Broome and company rode a paddle boat during their off-time across the Pacific Ocean, the Tigers were hit by a metaphorical bus for much of the first half on Monday night in Maui. After a slugfest early on, Iowa State became unconscious from the field, connecting on nearly 60% of its field goals in a 49-point first half. The Cyclones No. 4 rated KenPom defense showed up as well, holding Auburn to 33 points in the first stanza.
Despite the horrendous first half showing, Bruce Pearl’s squad came out with intensity and new life in the final 20 minutes. Auburn’s defense tightened up, holding the Cyclones without a field goal through nearly 6 minutes to open the half. Auburn’s offense followed suit, mainly due to the “microwave” scoring ability of Chad Baker-Mazara. The senior erupted by scoring 7 of his 18 points in the first 4:30 of the second half. He would later go on to score 9 more points over the final 15:30 of the contest, including a key go-ahead baseline floater with 90 seconds remaining in the game.
While Baker-Mazara was the star of the second half, it was superstar forward Johni Broome who stole the show, both on the stat sheet and on the eventual social media highlights. Auburn’s best player finished the top 5 matchup as the best scorer on either side with a 21-point, 10-rebound, 2-block effort. Every 21 points Broome accumulated mattered, but his final two were the most crucial, coming on an offensive rebound put-back that won the Tigers the game with 1.3 seconds to go.
Other than Broome and Baker-Mazara, Denver Jones (12), Miles Kelly (12), and Tahaad Pettiford (14) all reached double figures. Jones and Kelly were particularly important down the stretch, hitting key shots to keep Auburn within striking distance until the Tigers finally took a lead they would never relinquish.
Auburn’s fifth win of the season was its most impressive to date, but the undefeated Tigers won’t have much time to enjoy it, as a date with either Dayton or No. 13 ranked North Carolina is on the docket for tomorrow evening. If Bruce Pearl’s squad can prevail again tomorrow, Auburn will play for a ‘Maui Invitational’ championship on Wednesday afternoon.
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