The Auburn basketball team fought hard to secure another home victory on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Georgia Bulldogs. Similar to their game against Arkansas the previous week, the Tigers faced offensive struggles at Neville Arena, but Johni Broome carried the team on his back to clinch the win.
Denver Jones contributed 17 points, while Chad Baker-Mazara and Miles Kelly each added 11 points. However, Broome was the standout performer, delivering a dominant 31 points and 14 rebounds, adding another double-double to his impressive season. Despite a poor shooting performance in the first half, Auburn turned things around in the second half to secure an 82-70 victory over the Bulldogs. Here’s what head coach Bruce Pearl and the team had to say about the win.
Pearl praised Broome’s performance, telling *Auburn Undercover*:
“That’s why he’s Player of the Year. Unbelievable poise. He plays at a great pace offensively, and his patience and calculation were key. His aggressive attacks at the rim made the biggest difference tonight. We had Broome, and they didn’t. And he played exceptionally well.”
Pearl also commented on Georgia’s defensive strategy, per *Auburn Rivals*:
“Great game-planning by them. They threw some 3-2 and 1-2-2 zone looks at us, which we hadn’t seen much this season. It caught us off guard, but we adjusted and found ways to score 80 points.”
Miles Kelly emphasized the importance of rebounding, speaking to *AL.com*:
“Rebounding is crucial. Offensive boards give us second-chance points, especially when we’re struggling from beyond the arc. With guys like Johni, Dylan, Chaney, Chris, and Hudson crashing the glass, it gives us extra opportunities to score.”
The Tigers will be back in action this Wednesday as they host Ole Miss at Neville Arena.
Leave a Reply