Four days after topping then-No. 4 Houston on the road, No. 5 Auburn let much of a 22-point first-half lead against Kent State slip away Wednesday night before emerging with a 79-56 home win.
Johni Broome, selected the SEC Player of the Week on Monday, and Chaney Johnson each scored 18 points to lead the Tigers (3-0). Johnson’s night included 12 rebounds plus a dunk that increased the Tigers’ lead to 36-22 entering halftime.
Auburn’s Denver Jones and Chad Baker-Mazara tallied 12 points apiece.
Kent State (2-1) was carried by forward VonCameron Davis’ 19 points but struggled from beyond the 3-point arc. The Golden Flashes went 5-for-21 (23.8 percent) from long distance.
Davis finished 6-for-14 from the field, including 2-for-6 from 3-point range. Teammate Jalen Sullinger added 16 points.
Kent State trailed 30-8 with 7:10 to go in the first half after an 8-0 Tigers surge that featured three fastbreak baskets.
The Golden Flashes scored the next 12 points, capped by a Sullinger layup, to get within 30-20 with 2:15 remaining in the half.
Johnson produced two baskets late in the half to help give the Tigers a 36-22 advantage entering intermission.
Auburn used a 8-0 run — with six of the points coming from Broome — to go ahead 49-37 with 13:19 left in the game.
The Tigers outrebounded the Golden Flashes 41-33, and the hosts scored 42 points in the paint compared to just 26 for Kent State.
The Tigers will attempt to keep their perfect season alive when they host North Alabama on Monday. That contest precedes a trip to the Maui Invitational, where Auburn opens against No. 6 Iowa State on Nov. 25.
Kent State will oppose Niagara on Nov. 21 in its first home game in 13 days.
Auburn played in front of its 57th consecutive home sellout.
–Field Level Media
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