No. 4 Auburn clips fifth-ranked Iowa State, 83-81, with a furious comeback in the Maui Invitational

[The Rob Gray]

No. 4 Auburn clips fifth-ranked Iowa State, 83-81, with a furious comeback in the Maui Invitational

Nov 25, 2024; Lahaina, Hawaii, USA; Iowa State Cyclones guard Keshon Gilbert (10) goes to the basket over Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game at Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images Six minutes and nine seco

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[Thomasrickj]

If there’s one thing last night taught us it’s that this team is absurdly powerful when things are clicking, but they need to learn to finish out games. That first half was some of the best basketball I’ve ever seen, but second half the team just fumbled around and couldn’t figure it out.

 

[mj4cy]

If there’s one thing last night taught us it’s that this team is absurdly powerful when things are clicking, but they need to learn to finish out games. That first half was some of the best basketball I’ve ever seen, but second half the team just fumbled around and couldn’t figure it out.

100% agree....I'm encouraged that we have it in us to just run it on anyone and that we didn't collapse against a meh team. Auburn is legit. If they win Maui they should be #1.

 

[Thomasrickj]

100% agree....I'm encouraged that we have it in us to just run it on anyone and that we didn't collapse against a meh team. Auburn is legit. If they win Maui they should be #1.

The best thing is a two point loss to the number 4 team in the country shouldn’t hurt our ranking. If we can whoop up on Dayton and hopefully get UConn for the fifth place game and beat up on them, we should remain in the same spot.

 

[mj4cy]

The best thing is a two point loss to the number 4 team in the country shouldn’t hurt our ranking. If we can whoop up on Dayton and hopefully get UConn for the fifth place game and beat up on them, we should remain in the same spot.

I think Auburn rolls UNC...but yeah would be the biggest 5th place game ever to get Uconn lol

 

[2forISU]

ISU played a poor 2nd half from the defensive end, but Auburn was hitting some big shots from NBA range.
I'm concerned about Lipsey health.

Based on the little bit ball I have seen this year, I think the Big12 comes down to Houston and ISU.

 

[Thomasrickj]

I think Auburn rolls UNC...but yeah would be the biggest 5th place game ever to get Uconn lol

I think Auburn will murder UNC as well. Dayton looks like no slouch either. They were steamrolling UNC until UNC pulled an Auburn and crushed UD in the second half. No easy games in this tourney.

 

[VeloClone]

I think the key to this game was Gilbert's foul trouble. In the first half Auburn was playing good defense but not great defense and the ISU team was able to work around his absence as well as turning defense into offense. In the second half when Gilbert wasn't out there and Auburn was playing the best defense they possibly could ISU really struggled to get penetration to create shots.

Frankly one more open 3 goes in for ISU or Tamin gets a couple whistles on the after basket inbounds plays when his defender was wrapping both arms around him and it could have been a different result. I am not worried.

The good news is TJ has the team's full attention at this point and they will really be trying to finish games because not finishing cost them a big win. It's gonna be fun!

 

[Chitowncy]

It's tough to lose one where you're ahead almost the entire game, but this tournament isn't over. If they can beat Dayton and then UCONN it will still be a successful trip with a W against a likely top 2 or 3 seed in UCONN come March. This team showed us the offense can rise up that first half.

Would have liked to see Jefferson stay agressive in the second half as he was the first. He made a heck of a difference for us in the first half with his driving, distributing (cross court skips, but also drive and dish) and scoring. Man, if he plays like that all game, it could have been a different result.

On to Dayton.