AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn opened the game with a 21-4 run and took an 80-55 win over Gardner-Webb Wednesday night in men's basketball action.
The Tigers (7-1) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first 95 seconds of the game and made five of their first six shots – including a 4-for-4 effort from distance – to power their 21-4 opening run.
Gardner-Webb (3-7) rallied with an 8-2 run to trim the lead to 11 points at 23-12, but Auburn buckled down defensively and pushed its lead back to a comfortable 29-12 with 8:50 left in the half.
The Tigers endured a drought of 4:14, missing six straight field goals, as Gardner-Webb pulled within 32-18 on a
David Efianayi layup, but Jared Harper broke the dry spell with a three-pointer and Auburn eventually built a 42-28 halftime lead. The Tigers made nine three-pointers (52.9 percent) in the opening 20 minutes.
Anfernee McLemore banked in a three to open the second half, sparking an 8-0 run for Auburn that forced a quick Gardner-Webb timeout with 17:50 to play. The Tigers' center had made just 1-of-8 from long range coming into the game, but made his first four from deep Wednesday night.
Gardner-Webb missed 12-of-13 field goals during a stretch midway through the second half, allowing the Tigers to slowly push its lead into the 20-point range for good. That stretch included a pair of four-plus minute scoring droughts for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Efianayi led Gardner-Webb with 16 points and six rebounds,
Jaheam Cornwall added 11 points off the bench and both
DJ Laster and
Liam O'Reilly added nine points in a tough shooting for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Gardner-Webb shot 35.7 percent for the game (20-of-56), and saw Auburn own a 52-30 edge on the glass – including 23 offensive caroms. GWU made only 6-of-22 from long distance and turned the basketball over 16 times in the game.
Presbyterian transfer Desean Murray led Auburn with 20 points and McLemore was very active with 17 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots in the post. No other Tiger scored in double figures.
Auburn cooled off after its hot start, shooting 41.4 percent for the game (29-of-70), but knocked home 13-of-32 chances from long range (40.6 percent) and held its big advantage on the glass. The 23 offensive rebounds led directly to 21 second-chance points.
Gardner-Webb will hit the road again on Saturday, taking on Big Ten foe Maryland at 12:30 pm in College Park. That game will stream live on Big Ten Network Plus (www.btn2go.com).
