AuburnFamilyNews.com: Tip-Off Countdown: #78 Auburn 119 Winthrop 85

Michael Niziolek, 247Sports

Auburn scored 119 on Charles Barkley Appreciation Night!

November 24, 2017 - Auburn Arena

So we start this one with a clip from back in 2016 when during an Auburn-Arkansas game, it was announced that Sir Charles Barkley would be receiving a statue outside of Auburn Arena.

| It's official, former @AuburnMBB great Charles Barkley will be honored by #Auburn with his own statue.

His reaction⬇️#WarEagle pic.twitter.com/GgkW8RIYqg
— Auburn Tigers (@AuburnTigers) October 22, 2016

Fast forward 13 months and it’s the night before the statue unveiling and the 2017 Iron Bowl. This game was dubbed as Charles Barkley Appreciation Night.

Off the court, this night was all about Chuck. On the court, this night was about Mustapha Heron.

Heron scored 18 1st half points and had 7 rebounds to lead the Tigers. This was a close game for about 13 minutes with the Eagles up 29-26 at that point.

Then Auburn took over and didn’t let up.

Desean Murray got it started with a 3-point play, Heron hit a 3 on the next possession and also had a highlight reel steal and breakaway in a 12-0 Tigers run. Auburn would outscore Winthrop 32-7 over the last 7 minutes of the 1st half and led 58-36 at halftime.

While Heron headlined the 1st half, Bryce Brown was the star of the 2nd half. Brown took 6 3s, and made all 6 of them over an 8 ¹⁄₂ minute stretch to start the 2nd half as Auburn continued to pour it on. His 6th 3 put Auburn up 90-60 with 10:30 to go. A 3 from Heron with 5:36 left put Auburn over the century mark, as that bucket polished off a career high of 31 points for Mustapha, while also nabbing 10 rebounds.

Auburn would get the walk-ons in the game and tied their highest point total in the Bruce Pearl era with 119. Auburn shot 42-68 for the game and 14-25 from 3

12 players scored for Auburn led by Heron’s 31 and Bryce Brown’s 21 points. Malik Dunbar had 13 points, Desean Murray had 12 points and 8 rebounds and Chuma Okeke had 11 points.

Here are the highlights!