AuburnFamilyNews.com: Tip-Off Countdown: #62 (11) Auburn 79 Ole Miss 70

Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn gets their 20TH win of the season.... to close out January!!!

January 30, 2018 - Oxford, Mississippi

After thumping both Missouri and LSU, Auburn jumped all the way to #11 in the polls as they took on Ole Miss for the 2nd time in the 2017-2018 season.

Auburn looked to sweep the Rebels for the first time since the 2007-2008 season.

It would take Auburn over 10 minutes to get their first lead of the game, courtesy of a 3 from Jared Harper to put Auburn up 20-19 with 9:46 left in the first half. While Ole Miss would retake the lead moments later, Mustapha Heron would put Auburn back in front with consecutive 3-pointers. Auburn would hold the lead for the rest of the half and led 38-36 at halftime.

Bryce Brown was held to just 4 points and had 2 fouls in the first half. Ole Miss would not that luck in the 2nd half. Bryce would knock down his 1st 3 with just over 16 minutes left to give Auburn a 45-41 lead. With Ole Miss down just 1 again, Bryce would connect again from 3 with 11:47 to go to give Auburn a 53-49 lead.

Mustapha Heron would score Auburn’s next 6 points on a trio of baskets but with Ole Miss making another run, Bryce hit another 3-pointer to make it 62-55. The 3 along with jumpers from Brown and Anfernee McLemore would give Auburn it’s first double-digit lead of the night at 66-55 with 5:30 to go.

After a pair of free throws from Ole Miss, Brown would key a 6-0 run to give Auburn its biggest lead of the night of 15 with just over 4 minutes to go. Ole Miss would get within 7 in the closing seconds but the Tigers would make free throws to escape the Pavilion with a 9 point victory and their 20th overall win on the season. The win moved them to 8-1 in the SEC and 20-2 overall.

Bryce Brown scored 19 of his team leading 23 points in the 2nd half, going 8-12 from the field and 3-6 from 3-point range. Bryce’s ability to score inside was a huge development his junior along with his continued improvement on defense. Mustapha Heron had 16 points and 6 rebounds. Jared Harper had 13 points and 7 assists, Anfernee McLemore had 10 points and Desean Murray had 9 points and 10 rebounds.

Here are the highlights!