AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn scored the first dozen points on its way to a 34-point halftime lead in a resounding 84-54 victory over Alabama A&M Tuesday at Neville Arena, the Tigers’ fourth consecutive win.

 

The 12-0 start was a preview of coming attractions, including a 7-0 spurt that gave the Tigers a 15-point lead and a 19-0 run late in the first half that overwhelmed the visiting Bulldogs.

 

“We haven’t put two halves together yet,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “Great first half tonight, but we haven’t put two together. That’s for me to figure out. I’m disappointed. That first-half team can win some games. That second-half team couldn’t win an SEC game.”

 

Chaney Johnson led Auburn with 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 17 productive minutes.

 

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Johnson said. “I try not to let missed shots mess with me. I just go out and play and the shots are going to fall eventually.”

 

“I thought Chaney was terrific all game long,” Pearl said. “He was physicial, he was athletic and played well defensively. I’m so happy for him. He did really well tonight. He’s in the gym all the time, too.”

 

Aden Hollway added 13 points while Jaylin Williams and Johni Broome each reached double figures with 10 points. 

 

Dylan Cardwell grabbed a game-high nine rebounds and Chad Baker-Mazara led the Tigers with six assists. 

 

“It sets the tone for the rest of the game,” Caldwell said of the fast start. “A team that has 10 guys who can score is very hard to scout for.”

 

Both halves began with 3-pointers from Holloway, who started alongside backcourt mate Tre Donaldson in a lineup that featured Cardwell, Williams and Chris Moore.

 

“The starting five came out and played like they were playing against Kentucky or Duke,” Johnson said. “That really helps us.”

 

The Tigers led 49-15 after a first half that saw Auburn distribute 13 assists while committing only one turnover. 

 

“We really shared it in the first half, but I didn’t think we shared it in the second half,” Pearl said. “It’s about valuing possessions and executing.”

 

Auburn cooled off a bit in the second half after extending its lead in the opening minutes.

 

Baker-Mazara grabbed a defensive rebound, drove the length of the floor and served an alley-oop that Broome slammed for a 60-18 advantage.

 

The Tigers led by 43 before the Bulldogs shaved 15 points off their deficit while Auburn went nearly seven minutes without a field goal midway through the half. Alabama A&M outscored Auburn 39-35 in the second half, aided by 12 Tiger turnovers.

 

“We’re looking forward to putting a good game together all the way through,” Cardwell said. “We have to be more disciplined and locked in in the second half.”

 

After Thanksgiving break, Auburn (4-1) hosts Virginia Tech next Wednesday, Nov. 29, in the ACC/SEC Challenge at 8:15 p.m. CT on ESPN2 at Neville Arena.

 

ALABAMA A&M POSTGAME NOTES

>> Auburn improved to 4-0 in the all-time series with Alabama A&M and is 37-0 all-time against current members of the SWAC.

 

>> It was the 41st-consecutive sellout (9,121) at Neville Arena.

 

>> Auburn held Alabama A&M to 15 points in the first half. It is the fewest points the Tigers have held an opponent to in the first half since holding Troy to 10 first-half points on Dec. 19, 2020. It was third-fewest points in any half in Neville Arena history. Auburn held Alabama A&M to 54 points for the game, which is a season low by an opponent this season.

 

>> The Tigers committed only one turnover in the first half. 

 

>> Auburn scored the first 12 points of the game on its way to an 84-54 victory. The 30-point win is the Tigers’ largest margin of victory since beating Missouri 89-56 last season.

 

>> Auburn’s 84 points are two points off the Tigers’ season-high 86 points against Southeastern Louisiana. Auburn has topped the 80-point mark in four of its five games this season. The Tigers, who are averaging 82.4 points per game, have scored at least 77 points in every game.

 

>> The Tigers have now won 47 consecutive games over a non-conference opponent inside Neville Arena.

 

>> Auburn scored a season-high 49 bench points on Tuesday night. It is the fourth time the Tigers have scored at least 30 bench points and the second time they have scored at least 40 bench points this season. The Tigers’ reserves are averaging 37.8 points per game and have scored 45.9 percent of the team’s points this season.

 

>> Auburn outrebounded Alabama A&M, 48-27. The 21+ rebounding margin was the Tigers’ largest since outrebounding Missouri, 48-26, last season.

 

>> Auburn finished with 19 assists on 26 field goals led by Chad Baker-Mazara’s career-high six assists. The Tigers have recorded at least 18 assists in all five games this season and are averaging 20.0 assists per game. AU has assisted on 71.9 percent of its baskets this season.

 

>> Auburn scored a season-high 40 points in the paint, including nine dunks, in the win over Alabama A&M. The Tigers’ previous season high was 38 points in the paint against Notre Dame.

 

>> Auburn set season highs with 26 free throws and 36 free-throw attempts against Alabama A&M. The Tigers’ previous season highs came in their last game against St. Bonaventure when they made 19-of-27 from the line.

 

>> A season-high 11 Tigers scored in the win over Alabama A&M.

 

>> Chaney Johnson led four players in double figures with a season-high 15 points on 6-of-8 field goals. Johnson is the ninth different Tiger who has a double-figure scoring game this season. He added four rebounds, two steals and one block in the win.

 

>> Freshman Aden Holloway finished with 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go with two assists and one rebound against Alabama A&M. He has scored in double figures in four of his first five career games and is averaging 13.2 points per game. Holloway has made 15 shots from long range on the season.

 

>> Johni Broome recorded his fifth-straight game in double figures to start the season and his 14th-straight dating back to last season. He is averaging 15.8 points over his last 14 games.

 

>> Jaylin Williams scored 10 points on 3-of-4 field goals in the win over Alabama A&M. It marked his third-straight game in double figures and the 45th of his career. Williams is averaging 10.7 points on 63.2 percent shooting from the field over his last three games.

 

>> Tre Donaldson started for the third time in his career after starting the first two games this season. Dylan Cardwell picked up his second career start versus Alabama A&M and his first since starting against Texas Southern last season.

 

>> Jaylin Williams and Chris Moore are the only Tigers who have started all five games this season.