NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Denver Jones notched an impressive 21 points to lead No. 1 Auburn to a hard-fought 80-68 victory over Vanderbilt on Tuesday night, halting the Tigers’ potential first losing streak of the season. Now boasting a record of 22-2 overall and 10-1 in conference play, Auburn sets its sights on a highly anticipated battle on Saturday that will determine the top spot in the Southeastern Conference standings, supremacy in the state of Alabama, and possibly the pinnacle of the AP Top 25 rankings. Prior to Tuesday’s contest, the Tigers were in a deadlock with No. 2 Alabama in conference standings.
Chaney Johnson also delivered a remarkable performance for Auburn, contributing 20 points, while Johni Broome added 17 to the winning effort. Auburn wasted no time asserting dominance, scoring the first 15 points of the game and swiftly rebounding from their recent home defeat against Florida. Vanderbilt, however, mounted a fierce comeback and managed to sink their first 3-point shot just before halftime, closing the gap to 34-32.
Vanderbilt (17-7, 5-6) capitalized on their momentum in the second half, seizing their first lead with a timely 3-pointer by Jason Edwards. The Commodores briefly led 49-48 on a putback by Chris Manon before Auburn responded with a decisive 12-2 run, dashing Vanderbilt’s aspirations for a season-defining upset.
Edwards tallied 13 points for Vanderbilt, with AJ Hoggard and Devin McGlockton chipping in 10 points each. McGlockton also showcased his prowess on the boards, grabbing a game-high 13 rebounds.
Takeaways:
Auburn: The Tigers maintain their unblemished record in conference games on the road during a two-game away stretch and extend their unbeaten streak to 14-0 against unranked opponents.
Vanderbilt: The Commodores now stand at 2-3 against Top 25 teams, suffering their first defeat at home against a ranked opponent this season after previously boasting a 12-2 record at Memorial Gym.
Key Moment:
Johnson shifted the momentum back in Auburn’s favor with a pivotal 3-pointer, scoring nine consecutive points to propel the Tigers to a 57-49 lead with 11:38 remaining in the game.
Key Stat:
Auburn exhibited exceptional ball security in the second half, committing just two turnovers and finishing the game with a total of eight.
Up Next:
A highly awaited rivalry matchup awaits as Auburn travels to face Alabama, while Vanderbilt hits the road to take on No. 5 Tennessee.
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