Dec. 26, 2016
AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn point guard Jared Harper was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Monday after leading the Tigers to a pair of huge wins in three days in Connecticut vs. Oklahoma and at UConn.
The Mableton, Ga., native had back-to-back career-highs while averaging 21.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 steals. He totaled 21 points, including 16 in the second half, in Auburn’s 74-70 win over Oklahoma, which made the Final Four last season, in the Basketball Hall of Fame’s Birthday of Basketball in Uncasville, Conn.
Entering the game shooting 60.0 percent from the foul line, Harper made 11-of-12 free throws, including 7-of-8 in the final 2:02 to keep the Sooners at bay. He also had three rebounds, two steals and an assist.
In the 70-67 overtime win at four-time national champion UConn in Hartford last Friday, Harper upped his career-high with 22 points as he stuffed the stat sheet with all career-highs of five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
His driving layup with 27 seconds remaining in overtime proved to be the game-winner while assisting on the game-tying 3-pointer by Danjel Purifoy with 1:04 left, after the Tigers erased the Huskies’ 7-0 run in overtime.
Harper made 5-of-6 free throws vs. UConn and shot 16-of-18 (.889) from the foul line for the week.
Harper ranks in five SEC stat categories, fourth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.3), tied for fifth in steals (1.8), ninth in 3-point field goal pct. (.375), tied for 10th in 3-point field goals made (2.4) and 20th in scoring. (12.8).
At 10-2, Auburn has won 10 games before Christmas for the first time since 1999-2000.
Auburn returns to action as it plays host to Georgia in the SEC opener for both teams on Thursday at 6 pm on ESPNU in Auburn Arena.
For the Georgia game, Auburn is sold out of holiday bleacher seats and only standing room tickets are available.