Field Level Media
Jan 13, 2024
Chad Baker-Mazara scored 19 points, Johni Broome had 18 and No. 16 Auburn withstood a late second-half comeback attempt by visiting LSU in a 93-78 victory Saturday.
Aden Holloway added 13 points, Tre Donaldson had 10 and Auburn (14-2, 3-0 SEC) won its ninth consecutive game.
Trae Hannibal and Jordan Wright scored 18 points each, Will Baker had 13 points and 10 rebounds, and Tyrell Ward scored 12 to lead LSU (10-6, 2-1). The Tigers had won their last four games and started 2-0 in SEC play for the first time in four years.
Auburn took control down the stretch in the first half and had a 26-10 advantage in points off turnovers while making 16 steals.
Wright made a layup to start the second-half scoring, but Auburn scored the next seven points to take a 58-36 lead.
LSU got within 63-45 when Hannibal made a layup, but Baker-Mazara made a 3-pointer and Donaldson converted a three-point play to start a 10-0 Auburn run that produced a 28-point lead.
But Ward made three 3-pointers during a 21-2 run that got LSU within 75-66 with 5:34 left. Auburn rebuilt the lead to 13 with 2:55 remaining. LSU got within eight with 2:12 left but couldn't get any closer.
Jalen Cook scored seven points to help LSU take its biggest lead of the first half, 12-8, before Auburn followed with a 10-0 run to open a six-point lead.
Jalen Reed made a jumper to stop the run, and LSU got within four points on two more occasions before Holloway's 3-pointer gave Auburn a nine-point lead. Baker scored seven points during a 9-2 run and LSU closed within 32-30.
Auburn made 11 free throws during a 13-0 run that produced a 15-point lead.
Baker made one free throw to stop the run, but Jaylin Williams converted a four-point play and Auburn held a 51-34 lead at halftime.
--Field Level Media