AUBURN, Ala. – Two winners emerged from sold-out Neville Arena Friday: the No. 11 Auburn basketball team, which beat Florida Atlantic 102-70, and Auburn University’s Melton Scholars Program, the exhibition’s beneficiary.
“To sell it out like we did, I can’t begin to tell our fanbase how grateful I am,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “What we did tonight for the Melton Scholars is incredible. To provide financial support for the Melton Scholars is really significant.”
The amount raised to support underrepresented Auburn students will be announced Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium during Auburn’s football game against Vanderbilt.
“I thought we played harder tonight than we did Sunday,” Pearl said, referencing Auburn’s 83-62 exhibition win over Furman in Greenville, South Carolina. “We’re still fouling too much. The guys played unselfishly and together. You could see some of the different pieces.”
Miles Kelly and Johni Broome scored 15 points apiece to pace six Tigers in double figures. Freshman Jahki Howard scored 14 points, Denver Jones scored 13, freshman Tahaad Pettiford added a dozen and JP Pegues scored 11.
“It felt great,” said Kelly, who returned to practice this week after missing Auburn’s first exhibition with an illness. “Being able to be out there on the court with my teammates felt great. I feel like I fit in great. This is the reason I chose to come here, being able to add my talents and my game to this program. BP, the staff and the system fit my game perfectly.”
Broome led Auburn with nine rebounds and four blocked shots. Chad Baker-Mazara led the Tigers with six assists while committing only one turnover. Pettiford added five assists with only one turnover. Howard led Auburn with four of the Tigers’ 12 steals.
“They’re fun to play with, I bet they’re fun to watch,” Broome said of the flashy freshmen. “They bring excitement to The Jungle. They both are game changers. It’s fun watching them grow and learn and adapt to the college lifestyle and environment.”
Chaney Johnson chipped in seven points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes, making all three of his field goals and his only free throw attempt.
Seven Tigers made 3-pointers, with transfers Pegues and Kelly each making a team-high three.
Jones cut to the rim and Broome found him in stride for a dunk to account for the first preseason points at Neville Arena.
Just like that, The Jungle was back.
Newcomers Kelly, Howard and Pettiford made Auburn’s first three 3-pointers. Pettiford’s second 3-pointer, after Dylan Cardwell’s offensive rebound, gave Auburn a 10-point lead.
Jones’ 3-pointer extended Auburn’s lead to 20 points during a 15-0 run.
Howard showed off the high-flying verticality he first showcased while leaping over Pearl at Tipoff at Toomer’s, with a steal and slam that helped Auburn build a 49-28 halftime lead.
“He is so athletic and so explosive, and he wants to be great,” Pearl said. “He’s special. The good thing is he loves to learn, and he wants to get better. Both freshmen are pretty good.”
Auburn pushed the lead to 30 points midway through the second half on Johnson’s 3-pointer.
The Tigers reached the century mark on Pegues’ 3-pointer with 1:29 to play.
After committing nine first-half turnovers, Auburn valued possessions better in the second half, with only one turnover.
“We made a conscious effort to take care of the ball,” Kelly said. “One turnover in a half is very good. We need to keep that up.”
After two victorious exhibitions, the games will start to count in the standings beginning Wednesday vs. Vermont in Tipoff on The Plains at Neville Arena at 7 p.m. CT on the Auburn Sports Network.
“Vermont is very Yale-like,” said Pearl, “and we know what that means.”
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer