3-point shooting lifts Auburn past Iowa in second half
It took 12 minutes for Auburn to make its first 3-pointer of the game during Thursday's first round at Legacy Arena in Birmingham. The Tigers made just one shot from beyond the arc in the first half but still went into the break holding a five-point lead.
Shots started falling for the Tigers in the second half, allowing the 9-seed Auburn to create some separation against the 8-seed Iowa. The Tigers shot 7-of-13 from deep in the second half and led by as many as 17 points on their way to a 83-75 victory over the Hawkeyes.
The victory sends Auburn into the second round of the NCAA Tournament where it will play one more game this season in its home state. The Tigers will play Saturday against Houston. The tip-off time has not been announced yet.
Auburn has never lost in the Round of 64. The program's only loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament came in 1984 when the field included just 48 teams. The Tigers have now won 11 consecutive first round games.
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Auburn (21-12) saw its lead trimmed to just four points in the final four minutes of the game. Iowa responded with its own barrage of 3-pointers, with all seven of its made 3-pointers in the game coming in the second half. However, the final four minutes belonged to the Tigers.
Wendell Green Jr. scored eight of his 15 points in the final four minutes including going 6-of-6 from the free throw line to help keep Auburn in front. Johni Broome, a 58 percent free throw shooter this season, made all four of his free throw attempts in the final three minutes.
Jaylin Williams put the final exclamation point on the victory, throwing down a dunk off a pass from Green. Auburn finished with 25 fast break points during the win.
Broome led the Tigers with 19 points to go with 12 rebounds and five blocks. Williams finished with 11 points while Allen Flanigan contributed 10 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. KD Johnson and Tre Donaldson added 11 points each off the bench.
Auburn shot 46 percent from the floor, upping that percentage by shooting 55.2 percent in the second half.
