AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's first game of the 2018-19 season resembled so many from last year's SEC Championship run, with the Tigers unleashing their high-scoring, 3-point shooting ways in a 101-58 win Tuesday over South Alabama.
"We played exceptionally well tonight," Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. "We shot it well. I thought the coaches had a terrific game plan, and I thought the kids did a good job of executing it."
Jared Harper and Chuma Okeke each scored 20 points to lead six Tigers in double figures. Harper added 13 assists with only one turnover and five rebounds in 30 minutes.
The Tigers made 18 of 38 3-pointers, including six from Harper.
"We started having control when we got our first defensive stop," Harper said. "We just know if we're able to defend, we're able to win every game. We like to build our offense from our defense. We were able to do that, create some turnovers, five-second counts, and that just led to open shots."
Harper hit a trio of treys early in the second half during a 12-0 Auburn run. Samir Doughty's steal and layup gave Auburn a 32-point point lead.
Doughty scored 14, with Bryce Brown adding 12 and Anfernee McLemore scoring 11.
Malik Dunbar scored 12 straight points for Auburn down the stretch, giving the Tigers a 47-point lead with 4 minutes to play. Dunbar scored 16.
In his first Auburn game, J'Von McCormick hit a 3-pointer to push Auburn past the century mark with its largest lead, 50 points, with 2:43 to play.
The Tigers hit their first five 3s en route to a 27-point first-half lead. Auburn hit 12 of 17 3-pointers (71 percent) and led 52-33 at the half.
Harper picked up his first assist, an alley oop to McLemore, on the game's opening possession. Auburn never trailed.
Making his Auburn debut, Doughty hit a 3 to give Auburn a 10-point lead after three minutes.
"It was good, getting back out there and playing with my team," said Doughty, who missed three weeks of practice with an ankle injury. "I'm happy I got to play tonight. No one really expected me to start playing this early. Got a lot of treatment. I was ready to go tonight."
Okeke hit three 3-pointers during a 15-0 run that saw Auburn lead 32-7 at the 8-minute mark. Okeke led Auburn with nine rebounds, adding five assists. His 20 points were a career high.
"We came out with a lot of energy," Okeke said. "We just knew we had to start the season off right. We played together as a team. I feel like that was the big difference."
An 8 p.m. tip on a school night did not deter The Jungle, Auburn's student section, which filled the lower section and stood from start to finish.
No. 11 Auburn plays No. 25 Washington Friday at 8:30 p.m. at Auburn Arena.
"Friday night is a very rare and unique opportunity," Pearl said. "There's never been a Top 25 [non-conference] team to come into Auburn Arena, and we've got one coming in on Friday night."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer
Postgame NotesAuburn-South Alabama Series
Auburn improves to 6-4 all-time against South Alabama. The Tigers have won three straight and four of their last five in the series and are 4-2 at home vs. the Jaguars.
Auburn in Season Openers
Auburn improves to 82-31 in season openers, including 60-9 at home. The Tigers have now won 38 of its last 45 openers. Auburn is 35-4 in season openers against in-state opponents.
Bruce Pearl in Season Openers
Bruce Pearl is 23-1 as a head coach in season openers, including 5-0 at Auburn. Pearl has won 13 straight openers.
Tigers Reach the Century Mark
Auburn put 101 points on the board tonight, the sixth time the Tigers have scored 100 points in a game in Bruce Pearl's tenure at Auburn. Auburn has topped the 100-point plateau in consecutive season openers after defeating Norfolk State 102-74 to start last season. Prior to last season, Auburn had not scored 100 points in a season opener since the Tigers opened the 1998-99 season with a 114-60 victory over Southeastern Louisiana.
Tigers Scorching the Nets
Auburn shot 51.4 percent tonight including 18-of-38 from 3-point range. It is the third time the Tigers have made at least 18 3s in a game in program history. Auburn set a then-program record with 18 triples at Temple on Nov. 19, 1994, and tied an SEC record with 21 3-pointers against Coastal Carolina on Dec. 15, 2016.
Tigers Dominating Non-Conference Competition at Auburn Arena
Auburn has posted a 14-0 home record against non-conference opponents over the last two-plus seasons, including a 7-0 mark last season and 6-0 in 2016-17. Tonight is the fourth time the Tigers have topped the 100-point plateau three times during the streak. Eleven of Auburn's 13 wins during the streak have been by at least 16 points.
During Bruce Pearl's tenure as Auburn's head coach, the Tigers have posted a 25-3 (.893) mark against non-conference opponents at Auburn Arena.
Harper Records Second Career Double-Double
Junior Jared Harper tied for team-high honors with 20 points and added 13 assists, five rebounds, two steals and only one turnover in 30 minutes tonight. It is Harper's 11th career 20-point game and his third double-digit assist game. His first double-double came against Vanderbilt Feb. 3, 2018 when he had 14 points and 14 assists.
Sharing the Rock
Led by Harper's 13 assists, Auburn dished out 24 assists on 38 made baskets as a team. The Tigers' 24 assists are their most since also recording 24 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Dec. 30, 2013.
Downtown Bryce Brown
Senior Bryce Brown scored 12 points tonight, all in the first half, on 4-of-9 shooting from long range. Brown now has 245 career 3-pointers, putting him 17 behind Wesley Person's school record of 262.
Okeke Stuffs the Stat Sheet
Sophomore Chuma Okeke set new career-highs with 20 points and five assists against South Alabama. He also tied career-highs with three blocks and three steals and also pulled down nine boards tonight.
Auburn routs South Alabama 101-58 in opener
