AUBURN, Ala. — In a standout performance, Johni Broome recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Chaney Johnson matched him with another 18 points, leading No. 5 Auburn to a decisive 79-56 win against Kent State on Wednesday evening.
The Tigers, boasting a 3-0 record, jumped out to a quick lead and managed to withstand a surge from the Golden Flashes in the second half. This victory follows their impressive 74-69 triumph over then-No. 4 Houston, which propelled them six places up in the rankings.
Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones contributed 12 points each for Auburn. Broome delivered an efficient shooting performance, hitting 8 of his 12 attempts, while Johnson showcased his accuracy by making 8 of 11 shots.
Kent State’s VonCameron Davis, despite dealing with early foul issues and playing only 18 minutes, led his team with 19 points. Teammate Jalen Sullinger added 16 points, including three successful shots from beyond the arc.
Auburn was missing Jahki Howard and Ja’Heim Hudson for the second consecutive game after an incident on a flight to Houston resulted in the plane being grounded.
Key takeaways from the game include Kent State’s ongoing struggle against teams in the Southeastern Conference, now having a record of 5-8 in such matchups. Davis, despite an early foul trouble that limited his time on the court, rebounded with a strong offensive output in the subsequent minutes.
Auburn kicked off the contest with an impressive 10-point run and swiftly moved to a 30-8 lead. However, they were unable to maintain that commanding advantage throughout the match, contributing to a total of 23 assists on 28 field goals, with four players recording four assists each.
The Golden Flashes made an effort to come back from a sizable first-half deficit, narrowing the gap to 41-37 following a layup from Delrecco Gillespie with 15:37 remaining. However, Broome responded with six quick points, complemented by Tahaad Pettiford’s three-pointer and a buzzer-beater jumper that initiated an 11-0 run and effectively quashed any resurgence from Kent State.
In terms of shooting performance, Auburn managed to connect on 49.1% of their attempts (28 of 57), while Kent State struggled significantly, hitting only 32.8% of their shots with a total of 20 made from 61 tries.
Looking ahead, Auburn is set to host North Alabama on Monday night, while Kent State will take on Niagara in their upcoming game.