Tip-Off Countdown: #19 (18) Auburn 79 Richmond 65

Nicole Sweet-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn knocked off a really good Richmond squad who was also undefeated coming into the contest.

November 26, 2019 - Brooklyn, New York

Auburn put their early season 6-0 undefeated streak on the line against another unbeaten squad, 5-0 Richmond. It was the first time the schools had met since the 1984 NCAA Tournament. That Auburn team, led by Charles Barkley, fell by 1 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the only time that the Tigers have lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

As for the 2019 version, the 1st half saw the lead change hands several times as the Spiders led 35-34 at halftime. Auburn’s offense struggled in the first half but made a living at the free throw line, going 14-22 from the charity stripe in the first half while shooting just 9-26 from the field.

Austin Wiley, who had a monster 2 games in Brooklyn, set the tone early in the 2nd early making Auburn’s first 2 buckets to give Auburn a 38-35 lead.

Moments later, Samir Doughty hit his first 3 of the game and Isaac Okoro got in the scoring column and Auburn was off to the races.

For most of the 2nd half, Auburn’s lead stayed around 7-13 points but a 10-0 run late would put the game away. The run was highlighted by this breakaway dunk from Okoro.

ISAAC OKORO HAS A SON NAMED RICHMOND #WARDAMNEAGLE pic.twitter.com/7ElaX08Nty

— Power of Dixieland (@Power_Dixieland) November 27, 2019

Samir Doughty would put the final touches on this one knocking down a 3 to give Auburn a 22 point lead, 79-57, with 2 minutes to go.

Doughty led the Tigers with 22 points on the night. Austin Wiley had 18 points and 8 rebounds. Danjel Purifoy had 13 points and 9 rebounds. Isaac Okoro failed to score in double figures for the first time in his collegiate career but scored all of his 9 points in the 2nd half, and also had 6 rebounds.

Defensively, Auburn held Richmond’s leading scorer, Blake Francis, to his season-low of 7 points in this game. Francis averaged nearly 18 PPG for Richmond last season.

Richmond finished the year 24-7 and this was one of Auburn’s best non-conference wins.

Here are the highlights!

from College and Magnolia - All Posts https://www.collegeandmagnolia.com/2020/11/11/21559802/tip-off-countdown-19-18-auburn-79-richmond-65