AUBURN, Ala. – Washington might have scored the first basket Friday night, but it was all Auburn after that as the 11th-ranked Tigers (2-0) scored the next 14 points and cruised to a 88-66 victory in what was the third-largest win over a ranked opponent in program history.
"When Jared Harper and Bryce Brown shoot 6 for 22, and you still beat a Top-25 team by 20, that is a really good sign," head coach Bruce Pearl said after the game. "Great balance overall. I thought Chuma Okeke and Samir Doughty both had terrific games, and it's a really good team effort.
"Chuma scored inside and out, was solid defensively and did a great job on the boards with 10 rebounds. Samir showed his knowledge of the game and his ability to score inside and out, getting the rhythm and defensively and being good at rebounding. I am just pleased of where we are right now."
Okeke got Auburn started with a 3-point basket followed by a put-back dunk that got the sold-out crowd at Auburn Arena off their feet. The sophomore led the Tigers with 19 points and 10 rebounds and recorded his second double-double this season and the fourth in his career.
It was only fitting that Auburn's first basket of the game was from long range because just like in Tuesday's season opener, the 3-point shot was going down for the Tigers on Friday night. Auburn made eight 3-point shots in the first half alone to jump out to a 48-30 halftime lead and finished the game with 12 makes from beyond the arc.
Doughty joined the party with back-to-back 3s midway through the first half, but like Pearl said, he did a little bit of everything for Auburn. The VCU transfer who sat out all of last season finished with 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and four steals in what was just his second game with the Tigers.
"My teammates just did a good job of getting me the ball and in the right places," Doughty said. "In the second half, Coach [Pearl] was on me about pressuring the ball more and making them feel uncomfortable. I just tried to make that my focus point, just pressuring the ball and getting out to a good start. We didn't get out to a good start (in the second half) last game, so we were really harping on that tonight."
Despite being undersized at a majority of the positions, Auburn controlled the glass with a plus-17 rebound margin, 41-24, which included 19 offensive boards – led by Okeke's six. The Tigers were also active on the defensive end, forcing Washington (1-1) into 18 turnovers.
Though there was plenty to cheer about in Friday's game, the loudest cheer of the night might have come with 16:56 left in the first half when Austin Wiley checked into the game for the first time.
For Wiley, a former top-50 recruit, it was his first game action since the SEC tournament in March 2017. The 6-foot-11, 260-pound big man made his first shot before picking up two quick fouls. He played a total of 13 minutes and scored five points in his 2018-19 debut.
"I am so proud of our fans and our students," Pearl said. "They are just wonderful. I know [Austin] Wiley was just grateful at the response our fans gave him which was a standing ovation."
Auburn returns to the court Wednesday, Nov. 14, when it takes on Mississippi College. Tip time is slated for 7 p.m. CT at Auburn Arena.
Tigers dominate from start to finish in top-25 victory against Huskies
