AUBURN, Ala. – Coming into Wednesday night's game, Auburn needed a spark on offense. Something to get this team going after back-to-back losses. What they didn't know was that spark would come from freshman Devan Cambridge.
Cambridge, who came in averaging 3.1 points per game, scored a career-high 26 points off the bench to lead the Tigers past South Carolina, 80-67, inside Auburn Arena.
"I felt like I brought the energy today," Cambridge said. "We needed somebody to step up and (Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl) told me to just play with confidence. I came out today and did that. My teammates found me, and I was just making my shots."
"Devan certainly was feeling it," Pearl said. "I have said that someday he can be our best player. I talked to him before the game tonight and was like, 'What are you waiting for?' This team needs him this year. His confidence, believe it or not, I think was weighing on him. It was kind of time for him to step up a little bit. He had a really good time, so I'm happy for him."
When Cambridge checked in, there were 12 minutes left in the first half and the Tigers were trailing 13-6. Within 30 seconds, he knocked down a 3-pointer. Then, after a steal, he threw down an alley-oop dunk from teammate Samir Doughty. The freshman stayed hot, knocking down three more long balls in a span of two minutes as part of a 12-0 run to give Auburn the lead. One he even banked in.
"I felt like I couldn't miss," he said. "Especially after I banked that one. I was like, 'Yeah, I'm feeling it."
By halftime, Cambridge had 14 points, surpassing his previous career high (10). He finished the night 10 of 14 from the field and made 6 of his 9 attempts from beyond the arc.
"We knew he had it in him," Auburn point guard J'Von McCormick said. "We just had to bring it out of him. He's kind of shy, so we're just trying to make him play his game. We're behind him make or miss."
Cambridge had the hot hand for Auburn, but the whole team found their stroke. The Tigers shot 46 percent from the field (26-of-57) and 37 percent from 3-point range (10-of-27). They also continued to knock down free throws, making 18 of 21 from the charity stripe.
It was a big night for Doughty and McCormick, who both bounced back after struggling last week. The Auburn starting backcourt combined for 24 points and nine assists and only turned it over four times. McCormick's 13 points were the most since he scored 28 against Mississippi State on Jan. 4. He also added five assists, which was his highest total in SEC play this season.
The team leader in assists for the Tigers was freshman Isaac Okoro, who dished out a career-high seven assists Wednesday night. He also added eight points and three rebounds.
The trio of Okoro, McCormick and Doughty combined for 16 of Auburn's 17 assists.
"Rather than them always getting to the rim, we focused really hard on them trying to get the extra pass," Pearl said. "As a result, the 17 assists. That's why (Cambridge) was the recipient. Guys were open in the other games. We just weren't focused enough on playmaking.
"So obviously when we have 15 assists (in two games) last week and 17 assists tonight, that was a big focus of trying to break out a little bit offensively. We'll see if we can keep building on it."
With the win, Auburn has now won 41 of its last 44 games inside Auburn Arena, including 13 in a row. The 13-game home winning streak is the longest active home winning streak in the SEC and is tied for fifth-longest home winning streak in program history.
The Tigers (16-2, 4-2) will look to make it 14 in a row Saturday when they host Iowa State in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. The game is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT and will be televised on ESPNU.