No. 16 Auburn uses big second half to rally from first-half deficit and top Mississippi 91-77
OXFORD, Miss. (AP) Auburn coach Bruce Pearl didn't like what he saw on the scoreboard late in the first half.
His No. 16 Tigers were trailing by 13 points against Mississippi - but Pearl really liked what he saw on the faces of his players.
“They never panicked, especially when it looked like Ole Miss might run us out of the building early,” Pearl said Auburn dominated the second half to rally for a 91-77 win Saturday night.
“Our players had a business look on their faces," Pearl said. "And I really liked what I saw on the court in the second half.”
Jaylin Williams scored 16 points, and Johni Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara each scored 15 points, with 27 of those 30 combined points coming in the second half. Denver Jones and K.D. Johnson scored 11 points each, and Tre Donaldson added 10 for the Tigers (18-4, 7-2 SEC).
“Maybe our best win of the year on the road against an incredible fan base,” Pearl said. “If you’re going to win titles, you’ve got to win a road game that other teams can’t win. We did that tonight.”
Allen Flanigan scored 20 points, Matthew Murrell had 18 and Jaemyn Brakefield 15 for Ole Miss (18-4, 5-4).
Auburn trailed 42-29 late in the first half and were within nine at halftime before storming past Ole Miss in the second half. The Tigers outscored the Rebels 56-33 and shot 22 of 30 from the field.
Donaldson gave Auburn its first lead at 62-60 on a jumper with 10:56 remaining and Ole Miss did not seriously challenge in the final five minutes.
The Rebels shot 45% from the field overall - 28 of 62 - and struggled in the second half, shooting only 11 of 29.
“The question for us is how we respond to this. A win would’ve been nice, but give Auburn all the credit,” Ole Miss coach Chris Beard said. “The tougher, better conditioned team won the second half.”
Auburn decisively won the rebounding battle 42-26, led by Baker-Mazara and Broome with nine apiece. Auburn got 36 points from its reserves, while Ole Miss managed only eight.
BIG PICTURE
Auburn: It was arguably the most important road win of the season, especially coming off consecutive road losses. The win kept Auburn only one game off the SEC lead, with league leader Alabama coming to Auburn next week.
Ole Miss was unbeaten at home and provided a strong effort in front of a raucous crowd, but shooting 15 of 20 from the field to open the second half was the difference.
Ole Miss: Falling to 18-4 overall, the Rebels remain a solid candidate for an NCAA Tournament berth, but clearly have not played well in two losses against Auburn. This was much closer than a 23-point loss at Auburn two weeks ago. The good news is Ole Miss will not face Auburn again unless both teams advance to a high-stakes postseason game in March.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
After dropping eight spots to No. 16 last week, consecutive wins should improve Auburn’s status among the AP Top 25 poll voters. ... Ole Miss has been in and out of the AP Top 25 poll since January, but the loss figures to keep them as an unranked team receiving votes.
UP NEXT
Auburn: Hosts three of the next four games, beginning with No. 24 Alabama on Wednesday.
Mississippi: Visits South Carolina on Tuesday.
--- Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here --- AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
Copyright 2024 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | (Rebels gains possession) | |||
19:36 | +3 | Matthew Murrell makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists) | 0-3 | |
18:59 | Denver Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
18:57 | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | |||
18:49 | +3 | Allen Flanigan makes three point jump shot | 0-6 | |
18:24 | Jaemyn Brakefield blocks Chris Moore's two point dunk | |||
18:22 | Matthew Murrell defensive rebound | |||
18:18 | Matthew Murrell misses three point jump shot | |||
18:16 | Moussa Cisse offensive rebound | |||
18:13 | Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
18:11 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
17:52 | +3 | Tre Donaldson makes three point jump shot (Johni Broome assists) | 3-6 | |
17:26 | +2 | Matthew Murrell makes two point jump shot | 3-8 | |
17:06 | Johni Broome misses two point layup | |||
17:04 | Moussa Cisse defensive rebound | |||
16:55 | +2 | Moussa Cisse makes two point layup (Jaemyn Brakefield assists) | 3-10 | |
16:55 | Johni Broome shooting foul (Moussa Cisse draws the foul) | |||
16:55 | Moussa Cisse misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
16:55 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
16:34 | Johni Broome misses two point jump shot | |||
16:32 | Jaemyn Brakefield defensive rebound | |||
16:24 | +2 | Moussa Cisse makes two point dunk (Jaylen Murray assists) | 3-12 | |
16:10 | +3 | Tre Donaldson makes three point jump shot | 6-12 | |
15:50 | +2 | Allen Flanigan makes two point jump shot (Matthew Murrell assists) | 6-14 | |
15:27 | Tre Donaldson misses three point jump shot | |||
15:25 | Johni Broome offensive rebound | |||
15:19 | +3 | Chad Baker-Mazara makes three point jump shot (Johni Broome assists) | 9-14 | |
15:00 | +2 | Jaylen Murray makes two point jump shot (Matthew Murrell assists) | 9-16 | |
14:41 | Johni Broome misses three point jump shot | |||
14:39 | Chaney Johnson offensive rebound | |||
14:36 | +2 | Chaney Johnson makes two point layup | 11-16 | |
14:17 | Jaylen Murray misses two point jump shot | |||
14:15 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
14:06 | Moussa Cisse blocks Chad Baker-Mazara's two point layup | |||
14:04 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
14:04 | TV timeout | |||
14:03 | Chad Baker-Mazara turnover (out of bounds) | |||
13:40 | +2 | Brandon Murray makes two point jump shot (Rashaud Marshall assists) | 11-18 | |
13:20 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot | |||
13:17 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
13:01 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
12:59 | Brandon Murray defensive rebound | |||
12:47 | Jaylen Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
12:45 | Rebels offensive rebound | |||
12:45 | Aden Holloway personal foul (Allen Flanigan draws the foul) | |||
12:45 | +1 | Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-19 | |
12:45 | +1 | Allen Flanigan makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 11-20 | |
12:38 | Chad Baker-Mazara blocks Allen Flanigan's two point layup | |||
12:36 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
12:29 | Rashaud Marshall shooting foul (Aden Holloway draws the foul) | |||
12:29 | +1 | Aden Holloway makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-20 | |
12:29 | Aden Holloway misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
12:29 | Brandon Murray defensive rebound | |||
12:23 | +2 | Matthew Murrell makes two point layup (TJ Caldwell assists) | 12-22 | |
12:13 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point layup (K.D. Johnson assists) | 14-22 | |
11:48 | Matthew Murrell misses two point layup | |||
11:46 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
11:38 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot | |||
11:36 | Dylan Cardwell offensive rebound | |||
11:34 | +3 | K.D. Johnson makes three point jump shot (Dylan Cardwell assists) | 17-22 | |
11:01 | +3 | Brandon Murray makes three point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists) | 17-25 | |
10:34 | Aden Holloway misses three point jump shot | |||
10:32 | Chad Baker-Mazara offensive rebound | |||
10:30 | +3 | Aden Holloway makes three point jump shot (Chad Baker-Mazara assists) | 20-25 | |
10:14 | Jaylen Murray misses two point layup | |||
10:12 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
9:47 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses three point jump shot | |||
9:45 | Matthew Murrell defensive rebound | |||
9:38 | Chad Baker-Mazara shooting foul (Jaemyn Brakefield draws the foul) | |||
9:38 | TV timeout | |||
9:38 | +1 | Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 20-26 | |
9:38 | +1 | Jaemyn Brakefield makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 20-27 | |
9:24 | +2 | Jaylin Williams makes two point layup (Johni Broome assists) | 22-27 | |
8:56 | Moussa Cisse misses two point layup | |||
8:54 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
8:33 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
8:31 | Brandon Murray defensive rebound | |||
8:14 | Matthew Murrell misses two point jump shot | |||
8:12 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | Denver Jones turnover (lost ball) (Brandon Murray steals) | |||
7:49 | +2 | Matthew Murrell makes two point layup (Brandon Murray assists) | 22-29 | |
7:29 | Johni Broome turnover (bad pass) (Matthew Murrell steals) | |||
7:26 | +2 | Matthew Murrell makes two point dunk | 22-31 | |
7:08 | Denver Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
7:06 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
7:04 | Austin Nunez personal foul | |||
7:04 | TV timeout | |||
7:03 | Moussa Cisse blocks Johni Broome's two point layup | |||
7:01 | Denver Jones offensive rebound | |||
6:57 | Moussa Cisse blocks Denver Jones's two point layup | |||
6:56 | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | |||
6:56 | Chaney Johnson personal foul | |||
6:44 | +3 | Jaemyn Brakefield makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists) | 22-34 | |
6:19 | Chaney Johnson offensive foul | |||
6:19 | Chaney Johnson turnover (offensive foul) | |||
6:09 | Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot | |||
6:07 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
6:06 | Allen Flanigan personal foul | |||
5:50 | +2 | Tre Donaldson makes two point layup (Johni Broome assists) | 24-34 | |
5:40 | TJ Caldwell misses three point jump shot | |||
5:38 | Tigers defensive rebound | |||
5:20 | Jaylin Williams turnover (lost ball) | |||
4:53 | Johni Broome blocks Jaylen Murray's three point jump shot | |||
4:51 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
4:44 | +2 | Denver Jones makes two point layup (Tre Donaldson assists) | 26-34 | |
4:24 | Jaemyn Brakefield turnover (lost ball) | |||
4:18 | Jaemyn Brakefield blocks Tre Donaldson's two point layup | |||
4:17 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
4:17 | TV timeout | |||
4:14 | Johni Broome technical foul | |||
4:17 | Jaemyn Brakefield technical foul | |||
4:14 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
4:12 | Denver Jones offensive rebound | |||
4:09 | Moussa Cisse personal foul | |||
4:04 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses two point layup | |||
4:02 | Rebels defensive rebound | |||
3:58 | Dylan Cardwell blocks Jaemyn Brakefield's two point layup | |||
3:56 | Moussa Cisse offensive rebound | |||
3:52 | +2 | Moussa Cisse makes two point dunk | 26-36 | |
3:40 | Dylan Cardwell misses two point layup | |||
3:38 | Allen Flanigan defensive rebound | |||
3:29 | +3 | Matthew Murrell makes three point jump shot (Jaylen Murray assists) | 26-39 | |
3:12 | Denver Jones turnover (bad pass) | |||
2:56 | Jaylen Murray turnover (bad pass) (Denver Jones steals) | |||
2:51 | +2 | Denver Jones makes two point layup | 28-39 | |
2:50 | Moussa Cisse shooting foul (Denver Jones draws the foul) | |||
2:50 | +1 | Denver Jones makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 29-39 | |
2:35 | +3 | Brandon Murray makes three point jump shot (Jaemyn Brakefield assists) | 29-42 | |
2:14 | +3 | Jaylin Williams makes three point jump shot (Aden Holloway assists) | 32-42 | |
1:42 | Allen Flanigan misses two point jump shot | |||
1:40 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
1:35 | Aden Holloway misses three point jump shot | |||
1:33 | Jaylin Williams offensive rebound | |||
1:29 | Jaylin Williams turnover (bad pass) (Jaylen Murray steals) | |||
1:25 | +2 | Jaylen Murray makes two point layup | 32-44 | |
0:59 | Jaylin Williams turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:39 | Jaylen Murray misses two point layup | |||
0:37 | Dylan Cardwell defensive rebound | |||
0:11 | +3 | Denver Jones makes three point jump shot (Aden Holloway assists) | 35-44 | |
0:00 | Brandon Murray misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | End of period |