AUBURN, Ala. – With 9:02 left in the second half, Southern Indiana knocked down a 3-pointer to take a 54-46 lead in Auburn Arena on Friday night. It was just an exhibition game. The Tigers lost to a Division II opponent in an exhibition game three years earlier and went on to win the SEC regular season championship that same year.
But this Auburn team wasn't going to let that happen. The Tigers ratcheted up their effort and energy, especially on the defensive end, and ended the game on a 22-0 run to secure a 68-54 win over the Screaming Eagles.
"To close the game out on a 22-0 run, when it obviously was important, I thought our defense and rebounding in that stretch was outstanding," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "And I thought our effort was really good. Because we wore Southern Indiana down."
"The crowd got into it toward the end," added sophomore Dylan Cardwell. "And I feel like what really picked us up was our bench. Not even our bench but our depth. Everyone played their role, and it was just a blessing to see it all come to fruition. But the mixture of the crowd and the defense and just the intensity and the energy and our focus – we were able to get the job done."
Four players scored in double figures for an Auburn team that trotted out four newcomers in the starting lineup with transfers Wendell Green Jr., Zep Jasper, Walker Kessler along with heralded freshman Jabari Smith.
Junior Devan Cambridge, the lone starter back from last year, scored 10 of his team high 13 points during Auburn's 22-0 run to close out the game. K.D. Johnson, another transfer, provided a spark off the bench with 12 points. Japser and Smith had 11 points apiece, and Smith grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds to record a double double.
Though Cardwell didn't score a point, he changed the game when he was on the floor and totaled five rebounds and three blocks.
"Our bench was terrific tonight," Pearl said. "I thought that KD and Chris Moore and Jaylin Williams and Dylan Cardwell were terrific. They gave us the effort and energy that we needed on the defensive end. Dylan was +23 when he was on the floor, and he didn't take a shot. But he impacted the game with blocking shots and rebounding."
Southern Indiana, who Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl led to a NCAA Division II national championship in 1995, started the game on a 9-0 run before the Tigers closed the gap. It was 34-32 in favor of the home team at halftime.
The Tigers will be back in Auburn Arena on Tuesday night where they will officially open the season against Morehead State. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7 p.m. CT and will be televised on SEC Network+ and can be heard on the Auburn Sports Network.