No. 23 Auburn pulls away in the second half and outscores Washington 84-61
SEATTLE (AP) – Jaylin Williams scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half, Johni Broome also scored 18, and No. 23 Auburn ran away in the second half to an 84-61 win over Washington on Wednesday in the evening.
Auburn (10-2) closed out a two-game trip to the West Coast and bounced back in impressive fashion after losing last Sunday in Southern California. It was the final tune-up for the Tigers before the start of Southeastern Conference play next week.
Chris Moore added 12 points and Wendell Green Jr. added 11 for Auburn, which shot 21-of-29 (72.4 percent) in the second half and led by as many as 27.
Keion Brooks Jr. led Washington (9-4) with 15 points and Koren Johnson scored 12, but it was a disappointing effort and another missed opportunity for the Huskies to get an eye-catching win.
It was the Huskies’ first non-conference home game against a ranked opponent other than Gonzaga in eight years and Washington fell, sending fans to the exits with plenty of time in the second half.
Williams led a 14-0 Tigers run in a first half where scoring was hard to come by. Auburn led by as many as 15 late in the first half and used another 15-2 run midway through the second half after Washington pulled within six.
Auburn had lost two of its previous three games and Williams struggled offensively in both losses. He had eight points in a loss to USC and scored five in a loss to Memphis on Dec. 10.
His strike in the first half was welcome. Auburn took a 27-12 lead thanks to a 14-0 run in which Williams scored eight points.
Washington used a late surge to pull within 31-23 at halftime, but the Huskies’ first-half numbers were ugly: 21.2 percent shooting, seven turnovers and no player with more than five points.
Washington got within 39-33 before the Tigers pulled away. Broome had 12 points in the second half, making 6 of 7 shots. Auburn made nine straight baskets during one stretch, cutting through Washington’s press defense with ease.
BIG PICTURE
Auburn: The Tigers have never played a game in the Pacific Northwest. Auburn’s only other games against regional teams were against Oregon in 2000 and Gonzaga in 2020, both at neutral sites.
Washington: The Huskies’ last non-conference home game against a ranked team other than Gonzaga was San Diego State on Dec. 7, 2014. Washington fell to 5-16 against ranked opponents under coach Mike Hopkins and 0-2 this season.
UNTIL THE NEXT
Auburn: The Tigers open SEC play next Wednesday, hosting Florida.
Washington: The Huskies return to Pac-12 play, hosting USC on Dec. 30.
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