7 Days to Tip-Off - Earnest Ross

With a week to go in the countdown, we have a new face (to the countdown) to talk about today!

We are now a week away from the start of College Basketball! And with that, we move on to looking back at 30+ point games. There were two 30 point games over the last 10 years and we’ll discuss the first one today. Ironically, this guy is someone who we haven’t talked about at all over the last six weeks. Today is all about Earnest Ross.

Ross was born in Guam but played his high school ball in Cary, North Carolina. He spent 2 years at Auburn improving his scoring significantly over his 2 years at the school. He averaged just 2.8 points a game in his freshman season but increased his point production to 13.1 points per game his sophomore season, which led the team. Ross would leave Auburn at the end of the year though and move on to Missouri where he played his 2 last years of college basketball. Currently, Ross is playing professional basketball overseas.

Total Points: 30

Date: February 5, 2011

Opponent: at Georgia

Final Score: Georgia 81 Auburn 72 (Overtime)

Earnest was 12-18 from the field, 5-7 from 3-point range and 1-3 from the free throw line. He had 7 rebounds to go with his career high 30 points.

Ross began his scoring output about 3:45 into the game with a layup to put Auburn up 8-4. Ross made a 2nd layup nearly 2 minutes later. Ross made his 1st 3-pointer with 5:49 left with the Tigers needing a basket as the 3 brought Auburn within 5 points. Ross would hit again from long range with 3:27 to go in the half. Auburn trailed 38-34 at halftime with Ross leading Auburn with 10 points.

In the 2nd half, Ross got Auburn off to a great start making back to back layups in the half’s first minute to tie the game at 38. Ross made his next shot, his 3rd 3 of the game with 10:59 left to cut Georgia’s lead to 56-52. Every time Georgia looked to put the game away, Ross would respond with another 3-pointer with 8:10 left.

Auburn would trail Georgia 67-63 with 30 seconds left but Ross wouldn’t be denied. His layup with 13 seconds left pulled Auburn with 2. Ross would get a steal off the in-bounds pass and make another layup to tie the game at 67 with 10 seconds left. Georgia missed a layup to win it in regulation to send the game to Overtime.

Ross would keep the momentum going for Auburn making the first basket of overtime to put Auburn up 69-67. With 3:13 left, Ross would make a 3-pointer to put Auburn up 72-71 which would give him 30 points on the day. Unfortunately, Auburn wouldn’t score again and Georgia closed the game on a 10-0 run to take down Auburn in Overtime.

Tomorrow at #6, we will return to the 2013-2014 season.

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2019/10/29/20937652/7-days-to-tip-off-earnest-ross