AUBURN – A blazing start that led to a 22-point lead in the first half and yet another big night from Johni Broome fueled the top-ranked Auburn Tigers en route to a 106-76 win over Ole Miss at Neville Arena on Tuesday night.
The win marks Auburn’s third-straight sweep over the Rebels and the Tigers’ eighth-straight win over Ole Miss, a new series record for Auburn. Additionally, Auburn added to its already impressive resume with a 15th Quad I win.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the game:
Tigers blazing start gives them some cushion
Auburn got out to arguably its best start of the season against the Rebels, dominating both ends of the floor en route to a 22-2 run and a 36-14 lead with 8:05 left to go in the first half.
During the run, Auburn was unconscious from deep, starting a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and ending its run with an 86% clip on six made threes. Auburn had just one foul compared to Ole Miss’ six in the early goings, but after building a 22-point lead, turnovers and fouls halted the Tigers as they ended the half with 10 fouls and six turnovers.
A scrappy Rebels’ squad fought their way back and cut the Tigers’ lead to just six with 2:09 left as they went on an 18-4 run of their own. But Auburn punched back and took a 10-point lead into the half behind Johni Broome and Chad Baker-Mazara’s 28 points combined in the first 20 minutes.
Auburn wins the turnover battle
Ole Miss has not lost the turnover battle in any of its games this season.
Entering the game, the Rebels led the SEC in all three turnover metrics: they were 29th in the nation in turnovers forced per game (14.7), third with a +5.9 turnover margin, and the nation's best with just 8.9 turnovers per game.
One of the Tigers' main focal points on Wednesday night was taking care of the ball, and they did just that. They won the turnover battle 10-8 while scoring 18 points on the other end of the floor off turnovers.
Broome reaches another career milestone
Johni Broome, a frontrunner for National Player of the Year, needed nine points to reach another prolific feat in his collegiate career against the Rebels.
And he did so just 12 minutes into the first half.
Broome needed nine points entering the contest to become the 86th player in NCAA Division I men’s basketball history to eclipse 2,500 career points – this counts his time at Morehead State as well.
It ended up being just another night for Broome, who finished with 24 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. He was one rebound shy of his 18th double-double this season which would have tied the program's single-season record.
Big night for Chad Baker-Mazara
Chad Baker-Mazara was inserted into the starting lineup after being listed as a game-time decision on the SEC's availability report, and he let everyone know right from the jump what kind of night he was going to have.
Igniting Auburn's scoring efforts with a three on the opening possession, Baker-Mazara shot his way to a season-high 22 points as one of the main catalysts for the Tigers' 106-point performance.
Baker-Mazara led the Tigers with four 3-pointers on five attempts, shooting 8-for-12 from the field and finished with a +28 plus-minus.
Auburn does what it needs to get one step closer
Auburn can only control what happens when it is on the court, but with the Tigers’ win on Wednesday night, they are one step closer to achieving at least half of a regular-season SEC championship.
The Tigers must win their game on Saturday to clinch a share of the regular season title. However, they can fall short and still clinch a share if in-state rival Alabama loses its game against Tennessee on Saturday.
But for now, it’s all about what Auburn can control. And that’s winning basketball games.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email logan.fowler@1819News.com.
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