No. 4 seed Auburn defeated No. 13 seed Charleston on Friday with a score of 62-58.
Auburn hit its’ last four shots, including a pair of 3-pointers. Mustapha Heron scored 16 points for Auburn, which shot only 35.6% overall, and just 20.8% from 3-point range.
D. Murray had 11 points for Auburn, and B. Brown added 10. Charleston’s J. Brantley scored a game-high 24 points, and Riller added 16. Charleston scored the last seven points of the first half, pulling into a 25-all tie when J. Chealey made a 3-pointer.
Auburn’s D. Mitchell missed two free throws with 14 seconds left, giving Charleston a chance. Riller than launched a 3 that fell short, appearing to get fouled yet there was no call.
Charleston missed the front end of 1-and-1 as J. Harper headed to the line with 48 seconds left in the game with a 3-point lead. The shot that allowed the tigers to stay in the tournament was Auburn’s J. Harper when he drained a long 3-pointer with about a minute left. His tiebreaking 3, his only basket of the game, help Auburn with the victory.
Auburn advances to the round of 32 to play the winner of NO. 12 seed New Mexico vs. No. 5 seed Clemson on 3/18.
