Auburn overcomes slow start to crush Indiana 104 to 76

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

The Auburn Tigers dominated the Indiana Hoosiers 104-76 Saturday Afternoon in the Holiday Hoops Giving event at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta Georgia. Auburn improves to 6-2 on the season and Indiana drops to 7-2 and will face the #2 Excel H Sports Ranked Kansas Jayhawks next Saturday Afternoon at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.  It’s the first time since 112-110 double overtime at Syracuse on November 30, 2021, that the Hoosiers have given up over 100 points in a game. This was the first ever regular season meeting between these two teams and just the second all-time meeting. Indiana beat Auburn 107-90 in the Second Round of the 1987 NCAA Tournament at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

The Hoosiers came out red hot from the three-point line scoring their first 12 points on three-point baskets. Indiana led 16-6 with 15:12 left in the first half. Indiana led 22-10 with 12:57 left in the opening half which was their largest lead of the game. Auburn chipped away at the lead and outscored the Hoosiers 16-4 as Denver Jones second free throw tied the game 26-26 with 8:13 left in the first half. The Tigers would take the lead on K.D. Johnson’s free throws and led 28-26 at the 7:43 mark. the Tigers outscored the Hoosiers 14-8 to lead 52-34 at halftime.

In the second half Indiana got within 11 points at 55-44 when Malik Reneau scored inside with 16:38 left in the game as the Hoosiers were on a 10-3 run. Auburn scored the next five points to put the Tigers up 14 and increased the lead from there as the Hoosiers were outscored 52-42 in the second half. Auburn went over the century mark with 2:26 left to put the Tigers up 101-71 which was the Tigers largest lead of the game. Auburn controlled the basketball committing just 3 turnovers while the Hoosiers had 12.

Malik Reneau led the Hoosiers with 15 points, Kel’el Ware added 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Gabe Cupps scored 11 points as he started his third straight game filling in for Xavier Johnson who remains out with a foot injury. Freshman Mackenzie Mgbako added 10 points. Kaleb Banks scored 4 points in 16 minutes in his return to his home state. Banks is from Hampton Georgia and was one of four Hoosiers along with injured Freshman Jakai Netwon and Assistant Coach Yasir Rosemond who all hail from the Peach State. Head Coach Mike Woodson returned the bulding where he was Head Coach of the Altanta Hawks for six seasons from 2204-10.

Indiana finished 24-56 from the field for 49%, 6-17 from three point range for 35% and 22-29 from the free throw line for 75%. Indiana pulled down 35 rebounds, dished out 14 assists, 4 Blocks and 2 steals. The Hoosiers had 30 points in the paint. The Hoosiers had 21 points off the bench as Bloomington native Anthony Leal scored his first points of the season hitting two free throws.

Auburn got 24 points apiece from Jaylin Wiliams and Aden Holloway. K.D. Johnson scored 14 points of the bench for Tigers, Denver Jones added 12 points, Chad Baker-Marza scored 11 points and Tre Donaldson added 10 points for Tigers team that put six players in double figures. Auburn finished 34-72 from the field for 48%, 14-29 from three-point range for 48% and 20-23 from the free throw line for 87%. Auburn pulled down 39 rebounds, dished out 25 assists, 8 steals and 3 blocks.