ATLANTA, GA (EETV) – Auburn men’s basketball was in Atlanta Saturday for Holiday Hoopsgiving, taking on the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Tigers took care of business, dominating Ohio State en route to a 91-53 win.
The Buckeyes took a quick 3-0 lead to start the game. Auburn quickly tied the game courtesy of a Johni Broome three-pointer and never looked back, leading for the rest of the contest.
The Auburn offense seemed unstoppable vs the Buckeyes, scoring at will both down low and behind the arc. The Tigers shot 56 percent from beyond the arc in the first half, including four made threes from Denver Jones, accounting for all of his 12 first-half points.
The Auburn defense was also locked in, holding an Ohio State squad that averaged 30 points per game via three-pointers to just 18 points from beyond the arc and 53 points total. The Buckeyes’ leading scorer Bruce Thornton was held to just three points in the game, his lowest total since January 1 last season vs Penn State.
The star of the game for Auburn, though, was Johni Broome. Broome went nuclear on Ohio State in the first half, scoring 17 points and pulling down 14 rebounds in just the first 20 minutes. Broome would finish the game with 21 points and 20 rebounds, the first Auburn player with 20 or more points and rebounds in a game since Kelvin Ardister on Jan. 4, 1989. Though, the performance still left room for improvement in the eyes of the Tigers’ star player.
“I feel like I can get better,” Broome said after the game.
Broome also out-rebounded Ohio State’s entire team in the first half, but he wasn’t the only Tiger putting in work down low. Dylan Cardwell was also impactful in Atlanta, accounting for 10 points and 8 rebounds in his third double-digit scoring performance of the season.
The Auburn freshmen both had solid days as well. Tahaad Pettiford made three three-pointers, accounting for his nine points. Jahki Howard also played an impact, racking up 11 points in just 13 minutes on the floor. Overall, it was a consistent and sound performance for an Auburn team that continues to play like one of the top squads in the country, though this team still isn’t taking anyone for granted.
“I think part of the reason for the margin (of victory) was our respect for Ohio State,” Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl said following the game.
The win moves Auburn to 9-1 on the season with three games remaining before SEC play begins. The Tigers will take on Georgia State next in Neville Arena on December 17 as they look for double-digit wins on the season before New Year’s Day.
