In Nashville, Tennessee, Auburn has progressed further in this year’s NCAA Tournament compared to last year, though Coach Bruce Pearl wasn’t entirely satisfied with their performance. Auburn triumphed over Alabama State with a score of 83-63 in the South Region’s first round on Thursday.
Miles Kelly showcased his shooting prowess by sinking seven 3-pointers and scoring 23 points. Johni Broome, an All-American player, contributed with 14 points and captured 11 rebounds, leading No. 1 seed Auburn to victory over the 16th-seeded team from Alabama State.
Last year, Pearl’s team only made it through one game, suffering a defeat to Yale right after conquering the Southeastern Conference Tournament. This time around, Auburn stumbled in three of their last four games in the SEC, but their overall record still granted them the top overall seed among the No. 1 ranked teams.
Reflecting on the team’s energy, Coach Pearl commented, “We just weren’t sharp. One thing you can control. Our teams always play with great effort and energy too or our system doesn’t really work. I just didn’t think we did today.” The Tigers are set to face No. 9 seed Creighton, who defeated Louisville, in the second round on Saturday.
Alabama State initially led the game with a score of 3-0, creating challenges for Auburn in the first half. The Hornets, at one point trailing 28-15, fought back to narrow the gap to 32-31, thanks to a layup by Amarr Knox. His memorable buzzer-beater against Saint Francis had secured their spot in this round. The enthusiastic crowd at Rupp Arena cheered for Alabama State, rallying behind the underdog’s spirited performance.
Tony Madlock, coach of Alabama State, expressed pride in his team’s accomplishments. He commended their representation of Montgomery, their university, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities by securing a position in the tournament and winning their initial game. “(We) had some moments in this game where, you know, we made coach Pearl call timeout,” said Madlock.
Knox had an opportunity to edge Alabama State ahead just before halftime, but unfortunately missed both free-throw attempts, leading him to say, “I should’ve made those two free throws. I definitely should’ve made those.”
With Broome scoring early in the second half, Auburn established a 41-31 lead and continued to dominate, even as Broome encountered foul trouble early on. Tahaad Petitford added 16 points for Auburn, while Chaney Johnson chipped in with 13.
This encounter marked Auburn’s seventh victory against Alabama State, holding a 7-0 record. Notably, this was their first NCAA Tournament meeting. Although Alabama State didn’t advance, they departed with their inaugural NCAA Tournament win in what was their fifth appearance. Knox led Alabama State’s effort with 18 points, while TJ Madlock added 11.
Key observations include Alabama State’s fearless approach as they converted 10 steals and pressured Auburn into 12 turnovers, showcasing the tenacity of the Southwestern Athletic Conference program. Auburn, possessing a 46-36 rebounding edge, needs to overcome their struggles from the free-throw line, hitting just 56.3% of their attempts (18 of 32), which could be detrimental as the tournament progresses.
Auburn now hopes to advance beyond the initial tournament weekend for the first time since their lone Final Four appearance in 2019. The team previously exited in the second round for three consecutive tournaments from 2021 to 2023.