Auburn had some serious struggles and growing pains Monday night against Bethune-Cookman and will look to get back on its feet as it hosts Merrimack.
The Tigers looked out of sorts at times, which is expected for a roster that returned only one rotation player from last year. Auburn did not shoot the ball well from 3-point range or at the free-throw line (until the end of regulation) and also let Bethune-Cookman shoot over 50% from the field and from 3, which is a recipe to get upset.
Fortunately, the Tigers escaped and had some positives to build on heading into the game against Merrimack. UCF transfer Keyshawn Hall was relentless in getting to the rim, finishing with 28 points and 16 free throws. Hall played well overall, though he was loose with the ball, finishing with four turnovers.
Freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams and Mississippi State transfer Keshawn Murphy were both impressive off the bench. Murphy is still working his way back from injury, so he played only 20 minutes but was the team’s most effective player in that span. He finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists while missing just one shot. Once Murphy is back to full health, he should return to the starting five and will be key to Auburn’s success as the Tigers’ true center.
Williams-Adams could be the X-factor for Auburn this year. In his first collegiate game, he finished with 15 points, six rebounds and three assists while doing a little bit of everything. Williams-Adams is a Swiss army knife on both ends of the floor. He can score inside and out, battle in the post on both ends or even switch onto guards.
Auburn has to shoot better while also limiting turnovers on offense, especially live-ball turnovers. The Tigers got it done in ugly fashion but will have to show more in the next couple of games before the real tests of the season begin, such as Houston.
On Thursday night, the Tigers host Merrimack, who finished 18-15 last year and are 0-1 on the year with a 75-66 loss vs South Dakota State.
The Warriors are similar to Auburn and have several new additions to their roster, with only two returners from last year’s rotation. Merrimack is a smaller team and started four guards Monday night, with only one rotation player taller than 6-foot-8. The Warriors were outrebounded by 13 due to their lack of size, which is very exploitable.
In the season opener, Merrimack struggled to score, shooting 32.1% from the field and 27.6% from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Tye Dorsett led the team with 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. The three other starting guards also scored in double figures against the Jackrabbits. Ernest Shelton added 15 points, including two 3-pointers and nine free throws.
Merrimack is always a solid team in the MAAC but has a new look this year under head coach Joe Gallo, who lost his top six scorers from last season’s team.
Tipoff between the Tigers and Warriors on Thursday night is set for 7:00 p.m. CST, and the game will be available on SECN+.
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