Auburn basketball does enough in first half to survive massive LSU surge
AUBURN — Tre Donaldson has a case to make, but it's tough to argue anyone else on Auburn basketball's roster has improved more from last season that backup big man Dylan Cardwell.
The numbers jump hasn't been massive − he's averaging fewer than six points − but the senior center seems much more in control of his body. He's always been physical, but he's been able to really hone his role behind All-SEC standout Johni Broome this season.
No more was that on display than late in the first half of Auburn's 93-78 win over LSU on Saturday in Neville Arena. Cardwell forced a miss from Will Baker and then shifted his attention to rejecting Jalen Cook's second-chance layup. The ball caromed off of Cook on the way to the floor before rolling out of bounds.
Cardwell's effort and subsequent sprint across the floor in celebration threw Auburn's student section − The Jungle − into a frenzy. Cardwell finished with five points, six rebounds and five blocks in 18 minutes, and Auburn's main trio − Broome, Aden Holloway and Jaylin Williams − combined for 40 points on 44.4% shooting.
AUBURN MAN HIMSELF🚫🚫@Dylanupnext__ pic.twitter.com/SS9BBhE79v
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) January 13, 2024
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A strong first-half finish for Auburn basketball
Cardwell's highlight came in the midst of 19-4 run the Tigers enjoyed over the final 6:23 of the first half. It was a two-point game approaching the break, but Auburn's defense tightened up and forced LSU to miss 12 of its last 15 shots in the opening 20 minutes.
The Bayou Bengals were lead by Baker's 10 points at halftime. The 7-footer was giving the home Tigers some fits early before getting into some foul trouble late.
Turning LSU over
Auburn came in with a season-high mark in steals of 11. Coach Bruce Pearl's team took the ball away from its visitors 14 times. LSU finished with 16 total turnovers, and Auburn had 24 points off of those giveaways.
Late run from LSU
LSU was down by as many as 28 points in the second half, but a stretch of back-to-back-to-back-to-back triples helped boost it to a 21-2 run. A timely 3-pointer from Chad Baker-Mazara, who finished with a season-high 19 points and five steals, helped stop the bleeding.
Coach Matt McMahon's squad got as close as nine points.
What's next
The Tigers will play at Vanderbilt on Wednesday (8 p.m. CT, SEC Network).
Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn basketball beats LSU to remain undefeated in SEC play
