Nov. 16, 2007
Final Stats | Box Score in PDF Format
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- Korvotney Barber scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and Matt Heramb added 17, both career-highs, to lead Auburn to a 63-60 victory over Alabama State Friday night.
Barber and Heramb supplied all the scoring during a 14-3 run that gave the Tigers (2-1) their first lead in nearly 20 minutes and accounted for all but two of Auburn's 28 second-half points. Heramb's dunk off a pass from Barber capped the dominant spurt to make it 59-52 with 3:49 to play.
Brandon Brooks answered with a 3-pointer and Alabama State (2-1) forced a shot-clock violation and another turnover. Then, Brandon Gordon's pullup jumper made it 59-57 with 1:33 to play, but Barber darted through the lane for another basket and the Hornets missed three consecutive shots and had to foul.
Frank Tolbert hit two free throws with 11 seconds left for the Tigers, the only points scored by someone besides Barber and Heramb after the half.
Brooks hit another 3 with 2.6 seconds left and the Hornets were called for a foul before Auburn passed the ball inbounds. DeWayne Reed missed the free throw and Joel Bosh grabbed the rebound, dribbled a couple of times and threw up a long shot from before halfcourt that bounced off the rim.
Barber made 11-of-14 shots and had 10 rebounds. Heramb was 6-for-7, including three 3-pointers, after scoring just two points in Auburn's first two games.
The rest of the team was just 7-of-29 shooting, including a 1-for-11 performance from Tolbert.
Richard Lott and Brooks led the Hornets with 11 points apiece.
Alabama State led 39-35 at halftime and flirted with becoming the first Southwestern Athletic Conference team to beat Auburn in 11 tries.
The Hornets shot just 29 percent in the second half and were outrebounded 40-27, however.
Auburn hadn't made the 50-minute trek to the Capital city for a game since an overtime win over Alabama in 1967.