No. 11 Auburn clamps down on defense, beats Mississippi State 78-63
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Johni Broome had 17 points, Denver Jones scored 15, and No. 11 Auburn bounced back from a road loss at fourth-ranked Tennessee with a 78-63 win over Mississippi State on Saturday.
Auburn (22-7, 11-5 SEC) set the tone with its defense, as Mississippi State missed 17 of its first 19 shots. The Tigers never trailed, and they recorded nine blocks and eight steals in the victory.
“Defense wins championships,” Broome said. “We always harp on our defense. ... We knew it’d be a challenge on the defensive end, and obviously we stepped up.”
All 22 of Auburn’s victories this season have come by at least 11 points. The Tigers also have 20 wins by 15 or more points, which leads all of Division I men’s basketball.
Mississippi State (19-10, 8-8) cut Auburn’s 17-point halftime lead down to eight with 13:28 remaining. Auburn responded with a 10-3 run of its own to reestablish control of the game.
Josh Hubbard finished with 23 points, including 20 in the second half, for the Bulldogs. Tolu Smith added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
“They were more physical than us,” Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans said. “Kudos to Coach Pearl and his players and his staff. I haven’t said that too many times this season. ... They took the fight to us.”
Auburn fifth-year senior Jaylin Williams played in his 135th career game, breaking the program’s record formerly held by Frankie Sullivan. Williams scored 10 points in his return to the Tigers’ starting lineup after suffering a knee injury two weeks ago.
“This game, being back at home and being a starter, the ovation was amazing - because everyone was happy for me to be playing again,” Williams said. “But I was still a little tired, so I’ve got to get back in shape a little more.”
BIG PICTURE
Mississippi State: It’s been a tough week for the Bulldogs, who had won five straight games before dropping a close one at home to No. 16 Kentucky on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs appear to be in the NCAA Tournament picture, but these two losses were missed opportunities to boost their resume.
Auburn: Bruce Pearl told his team recently that it needed to do a better job with its shot-making heading into March, and it has responded in a big way. The Tigers have now hit 40% or more of their 3-pointers in three consecutive games for the first time since November 2017.
“It’s March,” Pearl said. “It’s time to make shots, not take shots. Guys have been putting in the work, and that’s what it takes to win.”
UP NEXT
Mississippi State: Visits Texas A&M on Wednesday night.
Auburn: Visits Missouri on Tuesday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Tolu Smith III vs. Johni Broome (Chad Baker-Mazara gains possession) | |||
19:48 | +2 | Denver Jones makes two point layup (Johni Broome assists) | 0-2 | |
19:11 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
19:09 | Johni Broome defensive rebound | |||
18:39 | Johni Broome misses two point hook shot | |||
18:37 | Josh Hubbard defensive rebound | |||
18:32 | Chad Baker-Mazara blocks Shakeel Moore's two point jump shot | |||
18:30 | Denver Jones defensive rebound | |||
18:21 | +2 | Chad Baker-Mazara makes two point jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 0-4 | |
17:57 | Shawn Jones Jr. turnover (lost ball) | |||
17:48 | Jaylin Williams misses three point jump shot | |||
17:46 | Johni Broome offensive rebound | |||
17:41 | Johni Broome misses two point layup | |||
17:39 | Johni Broome offensive rebound | |||
17:35 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point layup | 0-6 | |
17:31 | Jaylin Williams blocks Cameron Matthews's two point layup | |||
17:29 | Aden Holloway defensive rebound | |||
17:21 | Aden Holloway turnover (lost ball) (Tolu Smith III steals) | |||
17:07 | +2 | Shawn Jones Jr. makes two point layup | 2-6 | |
16:48 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point layup | 2-8 | |
16:34 | Josh Hubbard turnover (lost ball) (Denver Jones steals) | |||
16:27 | Shakeel Moore blocks Denver Jones's two point layup | |||
16:25 | Josh Hubbard defensive rebound | |||
16:14 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
16:12 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
16:05 | Chad Baker-Mazara turnover (bad pass) | |||
15:52 | Chad Baker-Mazara blocks Shakeel Moore's three point jump shot | |||
15:50 | Cameron Matthews offensive rebound | |||
15:50 | TV timeout | |||
15:15 | +3 | Josh Hubbard makes three point jump shot (Cameron Matthews assists) | 5-8 | |
15:02 | Tre Donaldson misses three point jump shot | |||
15:00 | Cameron Matthews defensive rebound | |||
14:57 | Josh Hubbard misses two point layup | |||
14:55 | Chaney Johnson defensive rebound | |||
14:50 | +3 | Chaney Johnson makes three point jump shot (Tre Donaldson assists) | 5-11 | |
14:14 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
14:12 | Chad Baker-Mazara defensive rebound | |||
13:53 | +2 | Chaney Johnson makes two point dunk (Chad Baker-Mazara assists) | 5-13 | |
13:33 | Dylan Cardwell shooting foul (Tolu Smith III draws the foul) | |||
13:33 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-13 | |
13:33 | +1 | Tolu Smith III makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-13 | |
13:29 | +2 | Tre Donaldson makes two point jump shot | 7-15 | |
12:56 | Dylan Cardwell blocks Josh Hubbard's two point layup | |||
12:56 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
12:53 | Jaylin Williams blocks Jimmy Bell Jr.'s two point hook shot | |||
12:51 | Jaylin Williams defensive rebound | |||
12:46 | +3 | Denver Jones makes three point jump shot (Tre Donaldson assists) | 7-18 | |
12:46 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
12:20 | Dashawn Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
12:18 | KeShawn Murphy offensive rebound | |||
12:12 | Jaylin Williams personal foul (KeShawn Murphy draws the foul) | |||
12:11 | Jimmy Bell Jr. turnover (traveling) | |||
11:58 | Denver Jones misses three point jump shot | |||
11:56 | KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound | |||
11:53 | Shakeel Moore turnover (lost ball) (Chris Moore steals) | |||
11:45 | Denver Jones misses two point layup | |||
11:43 | KeShawn Murphy defensive rebound | |||
11:21 | Shakeel Moore turnover (bad pass) (Denver Jones steals) | |||
11:16 | +2 | Denver Jones makes two point layup | 7-20 | |
10:46 | D.J. Jeffries misses three point jump shot | |||
10:44 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
10:43 | TV timeout | |||
10:42 | Josh Hubbard misses three point jump shot | |||
10:40 | Denver Jones defensive rebound | |||
10:11 | Johni Broome misses three point jump shot | |||
10:09 | Cameron Matthews defensive rebound | |||
10:00 | Jaylin Williams personal foul (Cameron Matthews draws the foul) | |||
9:52 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
9:50 | Shawn Jones Jr. offensive rebound | |||
9:46 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses two point layup | |||
9:44 | Cameron Matthews offensive rebound | |||
9:38 | Johni Broome shooting foul (Cameron Matthews draws the foul) | |||
9:38 | Cameron Matthews misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
9:38 | +1 | Cameron Matthews makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-20 | |
9:27 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point jump shot (Chad Baker-Mazara assists) | 8-22 | |
9:12 | Shawn Jones Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:11 | Tigers defensive rebound | |||
8:55 | Johni Broome misses two point layup | |||
8:53 | Tolu Smith III defensive rebound | |||
8:48 | K.D. Johnson blocks Josh Hubbard's two point layup | |||
8:46 | Josh Hubbard offensive rebound | |||
8:43 | Josh Hubbard turnover (lost ball) (Aden Holloway steals) | |||
8:41 | Johni Broome misses two point jump shot | |||
8:39 | Tolu Smith III defensive rebound | |||
8:22 | Tolu Smith III misses two point jump shot | |||
8:20 | Cameron Matthews offensive rebound | |||
8:11 | +2 | Cameron Matthews makes two point layup (Josh Hubbard assists) | 10-22 | |
7:38 | +2 | Chad Baker-Mazara makes two point jump shot | 10-24 | |
7:26 | Chad Baker-Mazara personal foul (Josh Hubbard draws the foul) | |||
7:20 | TV timeout | |||
7:13 | Tolu Smith III misses two point layup | |||
7:11 | D.J. Jeffries offensive rebound | |||
7:05 | Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
6:54 | Chad Baker-Mazara misses two point jump shot | |||
6:52 | Cameron Matthews defensive rebound | |||
6:35 | +2 | D.J. Jeffries makes two point layup (Cameron Matthews assists) | 12-24 | |
6:27 | +3 | K.D. Johnson makes three point jump shot (Chad Baker-Mazara assists) | 12-27 | |
6:12 | Tolu Smith III turnover (lost ball) (Aden Holloway steals) | |||
5:56 | K.D. Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:54 | D.J. Jeffries defensive rebound | |||
5:41 | D.J. Jeffries misses three point jump shot | |||
5:39 | Tigers defensive rebound | |||
5:34 | Cameron Matthews personal foul | |||
5:24 | +2 | Chad Baker-Mazara makes two point jump shot (Jaylin Williams assists) | 12-29 | |
4:48 | Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
4:39 | Jaylin Williams turnover (lost ball) (Cameron Matthews steals) | |||
4:31 | Cameron Matthews turnover (lost ball) (Dylan Cardwell steals) | |||
4:07 | +2 | Tre Donaldson makes two point jump shot | 12-31 | |
3:47 | Dashawn Davis misses three point jump shot | |||
3:45 | Dylan Cardwell defensive rebound | |||
3:41 | Tre Donaldson misses two point layup | |||
3:39 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
3:29 | Tre Donaldson personal foul | |||
3:29 | TV timeout | |||
3:13 | Dashawn Davis misses two point jump shot | |||
3:11 | Dashawn Davis offensive rebound | |||
3:05 | +2 | Dashawn Davis makes two point jump shot | 14-31 | |
2:53 | Cameron Matthews personal foul | |||
2:53 | Shawn Jones Jr. personal foul | |||
2:51 | KeShawn Murphy blocks Tre Donaldson's two point layup | |||
2:49 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
2:47 | Chaney Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Tolu Smith III steals) | |||
2:37 | +2 | KeShawn Murphy makes two point dunk (Dashawn Davis assists) | 16-31 | |
2:12 | +2 | Dylan Cardwell makes two point layup (Tre Donaldson assists) | 16-33 | |
2:12 | KeShawn Murphy shooting foul (Dylan Cardwell draws the foul) | |||
2:12 | Dylan Cardwell misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:12 | Dashawn Davis defensive rebound | |||
1:46 | Chaney Johnson shooting foul (Shawn Jones Jr. draws the foul) | |||
1:46 | +1 | Shawn Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-33 | |
1:46 | +1 | Shawn Jones Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-33 | |
1:29 | +2 | Johni Broome makes two point layup (Chad Baker-Mazara assists) | 18-35 | |
1:23 | Shawn Jones Jr. shooting foul (Johni Broome draws the foul) | |||
1:23 | +1 | Johni Broome makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 18-36 | |
1:03 | +2 | D.J. Jeffries makes two point dunk (Tolu Smith III assists) | 20-36 | |
0:47 | Dashawn Davis personal foul (Denver Jones draws the foul) | |||
0:46 | Chad Baker-Mazara turnover (bad pass) | |||
0:31 | +2 | Tolu Smith III makes two point layup | 22-36 | |
0:03 | +3 | Chaney Johnson makes three point jump shot (Tre Donaldson assists) | 22-39 | |
0:00 | End of period |