KEY POINTS
- Auburn secured a 78-67 victory over South Alabama after trailing by six points at halftime.
- Kevin Overton scored all 21 of his points in the second half, hitting seven three-pointers.
- The top-seeded Tigers tied a school record with 44 three-point attempts to break the Jaguars’ zone defense.
The Auburn Tigers advanced to the second round of the National Invitation Tournament after a hard-fought win on Tuesday night. Auburn overcame a slow start to defeat the South Alabama Jaguars 78-67 at Neville Arena. The victory marked a successful debut for first-year head coach Steven Pearl in postseason play.
South Alabama controlled the tempo throughout the first half by utilizing an effective 1-3-1 zone defense. The Jaguars built a 36-30 lead at the break, led by an 18-point first-half performance from Chaze Harris. Auburn struggled significantly with their perimeter shooting early, missing 21 of their first 26 attempts from deep.
The momentum shifted entirely during the second half as the Tigers found their rhythm from beyond the arc. Kevin Overton sparked the comeback by scoring all 21 of his points in the final 20 minutes of action. He connected on seven of his eight three-point attempts in the second half to dismantle the South Alabama zone.
Keyshawn Hall provided consistent production for Auburn by finishing with 21 points and six rebounds. He carried the offense during the first half and moved into ninth place on the school’s single-season scoring list. His physical play in the paint helped the Tigers out-rebound the visitors 42-31 over the course of the evening.
Freshman Kaden Magwood also contributed a career-high 14 points, including 11 consecutive points during a pivotal second-half run. His scoring burst helped Auburn turn a five-point deficit into a double-digit lead with less than eight minutes remaining. The Tigers’ bench depth ultimately proved too much for the Jaguars to handle down the stretch.
Chaze Harris led all scorers with 29 points for South Alabama in a standout individual effort. The Sun Belt Player of the Year added eight rebounds and six assists before the Jaguars’ season came to an end. South Alabama finished their campaign with 21 wins and consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time since 2009.
Auburn’s defensive adjustments in the second half limited the Jaguars’ effectiveness in the transition game. The Tigers forced several critical turnovers that led to easy scoring opportunities during their 13-2 run to start the period. This defensive intensity has been a hallmark of the team’s success throughout the current season.
The Tigers ended the game with 16 total three-pointers, setting a new season high for the program. This high volume of long-range shooting was a direct response to the defensive challenges presented by the Jaguars. Coach Pearl praised his team’s resilience and willingness to compete after narrowly missing the NCAA Tournament.
With 18 wins this season, Pearl now holds the record for the most victories by a first-year head coach at Auburn. The program looks to build on this momentum as they progress further into the NIT bracket. The atmosphere at Neville Arena remained energetic as fans celebrated the postseason home win.
Auburn will now prepare to host Seattle U in the second round later this week. The coaching staff plans to use the coming days to refine their defensive rotations and maintain their shooting form. Another victory would put the Tigers just three wins away from a potential NIT championship.
