Entering Saturday’s game inside of State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Ohio State averaged 23.2 shots from deep a game and has shot 41.6% from three – which ranks fourth nationally – this season.
The Buckeyes made just one shot from deep in the first half on only five attempts, and shot six-for-16 from three overall, as No. 2 Auburn cruised to a 91-53 win over Ohio State in the annual Holiday Hoopsgiving event – marking a fifth win over quad one opponent just ten games into the season for the Tigers.
“When Miles or Chad Baker or Denver or Tahaad, those guys, are shooting the ball they think it's going in,” Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said.
For those four players, and several others, they were right.
Auburn made 13-of-30 shots from beyond the arc Saturday afternoon – shooting nine-of-16 from deep in the first half alone. 13 makes from three was the second most of the season with four Tigers making two-or-more shots from three against the Buckeyes.
Four Auburn guards; Miles Kelly, Tahaad Pettiford, Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones, are all shooting 40% or better from three individually. With that, Pearl’s squad has now made double-digit shots from deep in three straight games for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
“Just makes us a better offensive team, because you gotta get out and guard us on the perimeter. And that puts up things on the inside,” Pearl said.
In the inside, National player of the year front-runner Johni Broome racked up a career high 20 rebounds, along with 21 points, in his first ever 20 points and 20 rebound game – the first Auburn player to record 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game since Kelvin Ardister in 1989.
“It's a special day. You know, definitely one to remember,” Broome said prior to rushing back to Auburn for graduation tonight. “You know, getting to 20/20, first time ever, and then going to graduation, I feel like that's even better.”
The big man knocked down a three, for the Tigers’ first points of the afternoon, and didn’t look back, shooting nine-for-18 against Ohio State.
Of the three individual performances of at least 20 points, 15 rebounds, and 5 assists in a Division I game this season, Johni Broome has all of them.
“I feel like I can get better. You know, shot 50% today. I missed a lot of shots today, so I wouldn't consider it my best basketball. I feel like I can play a lot better,” Broome said.
The Tigers defense was suffocating on Saturday holding the Buckeyes to a season low 53 points shooting 18-for-51 overall – with just five made shots from the field in the entire first half. It was also a season low 16 attempts from deep Ohio State with just six makes.
“I think our kids are pretty locked into how we guard, and it's the thing that you can control.” Pearl said. “Really the only way we can control our destiny is by locking in on the defensive end.”
Auburn had 13 blocks – the most for the Tigers since the 2021-22 campaign – along with dominating the paint by a +18 margin and out rebounding the Buckeyes by 21.
“Defense creates offense, so we're going into these games saying, ‘how many points can we hold our opposing team to,” Broome said. “And that's what we did today, and that's how the margin got so big.”
It wasn’t just a special for the Tigers on the court as Pearl and his son Steven welcomed Lainey Marie into the world, Steven’s first daughter, earlier this morning.
“He [Steven] left the hotel last night about two o'clock in the morning and drove to Auburn to be with his wife. And he got there and about a half hour later, she had Lainey Marie. So we've got great, great things to celebrate. And Brittany and Lanie are both healthy,” Bruce Pearl said.
No. 2 Auburn will return home to Neville Arena after the program's biggest margin of victory over a non-SEC power-conference opponent to take on Georgia State on Tuesday evening before another quad-one opportunity against No. 11 Purdue next Saturday in Birmingham, AL.
“I'm grateful for our fans and now we got Georgia State on Tuesday, so it's a short turnaround with Tuesday,” Pearl said. “So we've got two more tests before the Christmas break and we’ll see how our team responds.”
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
