Saint Louis @ Auburn preview

Auburn rallied from 14 points down in the second half to maintain its undefeated record last time out and the 10th-ranked Tigers look to make it nine straight when they meet dangerous Saint Louis in the Mike Slive Invitational on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. Auburn is off to an 8-0 start for just the second time since 1963 after coming back to beat Furman 81-78 in overtime on Dec. 5.

“We’ve faced some adversity now,” Tigers coach Bruce Pearl told reporters after his team won for the 20th time in 21 games, dating back to last season. “We’re fortunate to be undefeated at this point. I think everyone is very cognizant of where we are at.” Forward Isaac Okoro registered season highs of 18 points along with nine rebounds in the victory over Furman and was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday, supporting an otherwise veteran team that is shooting 48.2 percent from the field and scoring 85 per contest. Saint Louis was picked just seventh out of 14 teams in the preseason Atlantic 10 poll, but the Billikens have won five straight and eight of nine overall after draining a school-record 17 shots from 3-point range in the 86-62 win over Tulane last Sunday. “This was the most complete game we’ve played all year,” Saint Louis coach Travis Ford told reporters after with win. “We’ve been really inconsistent this year, playing one really good half and one bad half.”

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT SAINT LOUIS (8-1): The Billikens boast two players averaging double-doubles as Jordan Goodwin leads the way, contributing 15.4 points, 11 rebounds (15.5 the past four games) and 2.1 steals per contest. Junior forward Hasahn French (14.9 points, 10.4 boards) scored 18 and added 11 rebounds in the victory over Tulane last week and Ford told reporters it was “a warrior’s effort. Absolute warrior.” Freshman guard Gibson Jimerson has also been quite productive, averaging 11.3 points after scoring 22 and connecting on a season-best six 3-pointers in the win against Tulane.

ABOUT AUBURN (8-0): Okoro is second on the team in scoring (13.9) and is shooting 60.3 percent from the field after draining 5-of-9 attempts in the victory over Furman to reach double figures for the seventh time in eight games. “I was just attacking the rim all game,” Okoro told reporters. “I didn’t think they could stop us from going to the rim and getting to the free-throw line. That was the game plan for me.” Senior guard Samir Doughty leads the Tigers in scoring (18.5) and steals (1.4) while senior center Austin Wiley owns three double-doubles in the last four games to boost his season averages to 11 points and nine boards.

TIP-INS

1. Auburn senior G J’Von McCormick averages 8.4 points and a team-high 6.4 assists, but is just 9-of-34 from the field combined the last three games.

2. Saint Louis freshman G Yuri Collins averages 5.1 points and a team-high 5.9 assists - tied for third in the A-10 entering Friday.

3. The proceeds from the Mike Slive Invitational benefit research on prostate cancer. Slive was SEC commissioner from 2002-15.

PREDICTION: Auburn 78, Saint Louis 70