Tigers take momentum into first meeting with Yale

Tigers take momentum into first meeting with YaleTigers take momentum into first meeting with Yale
Matthew Shannon/AU Athletics

AUBURN, Ala. – For Auburn this season, you can almost count on 15-plus points from Jabari Smith, a double-double from Walker Kessler and a highlight-reel dunk from Devan Cambridge at some point.

You can also count on Lior Berman making an impact in some way.

Next Game:

Yale
Dec. 4, 2021
1 p.m. CT
TV: ESPNU
Radio: Auburn Sports Network



Berman, a walk-on guard, has taken advantage of his opportunity early in the season with Allen Flanigan out. The junior has knocked down a pair of 3s in each of the last two games and has given the Tigers a boost every time he's come in the game. 

"Lior Berman has consistently shown all summer long that he belongs out there," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Whether it's at the 3 or whether it's at the 2. He makes us better offensively because he's a real threat, and he'll make open shots, not just take them. And then defensively, he's physical. He'll put a body on you."

Berman will get another opportunity Saturday when No. 21 Auburn hosts Yale, the Ivy League regular-season champion each of the last two seasons. The Bulldogs made the NCAA Tournament in 2016 and 2019 and are favored to earn another bid this year. 

"They've won their league four out of the last six years," Pearl said. "I know they're going for a 3-peat. When you play against teams like this, they run such great stuff that they challenge your defense because it's just hard to guard. The 3 ball is obviously very important to them. They're 36th in the country in 3s made with almost nine a game. 

"They're a veteran team, athletic, quick. Our advantage will be our size."

Auburn and Yale will tip off at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday from Auburn Arena. Andy Burcham and Sonny Smith will have the radio call on 93.9 Tiger FM and online at AuburnTigers.com. The game will be televised on ESPNU with Roy Philpott and Daymeon Fishback on the call. 

Player to Watch: Walker Kessler

Sophomore forward Walker Kessler registered a season-high 17 points and career-high 14 rebounds (four on the offensive glass) against UCF. It marked his third double-double in the last four contests for the Tigers. He also saw a career-best 31 minutes of action versus the Knights. Kessler leads the team and is top 20 nationally with 24 blocks this season. 

Inside the Series: Yale

The Tigers and Bulldogs will meet for the first time on the hardwood Saturday. Auburn is 6-1 all-time versus the Ivy League with the most recent victory coming against Cornell, 98-77, on Dec. 30, 2017. The Tigers have also knocked off Columbia (2-0), Dartmouth (1-0) and Penn (1-0). The only Ivy League team to beat them is Harvard (0-1). 

Top of the Pack

In the last five seasons, no team in the SEC has won more than Auburn. The Tigers earned their 100th win since the beginning of the 2017-18 season on Wednesday night, beating UCF 85-68. They are one of only three programs in the conference to amass 95 or more wins. 

Auburn also has the best winning percentage (.869) among SEC schools in the last five years in non-conference games and are second in total non-SEC wins during that time with 53.