March Madness 2022: Jabari Smith leads Auburn to 10th straight NCAA opening win, 80-61

Jabari Smith could not look forward to his first NCAA Event sport so he might get again to having enjoyable and serving to second-seeded Auburn to its newest first-round victory.

Oh, and placing up a highlight-reel jam wasn’t dangerous, both.

Smith, the Southeastern Convention freshman of the yr, had a elegant event debut with 20 factors, 14 rebounds and a right-handed slam dunk that’ll be exhausting to overlook among the many highlights of the Tigers’ 80-61 victory over Jacksonville State within the Midwest Area on Friday.

The Tigers (28-5) will face Tenth-seeded Miami on Sunday for a spot within the Candy 16.

“We’ve No. 10 and you do not,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl stated with a smile, referring to Smith.

Pearl’s received loads of different standouts, too.

Walker Kessler, Smith’s 7-foot-1 companion within the paint, completed a block shy of a triple-double with 13 factors, 10 rebounds and 9 blocks. Okay.D. Johnson broke out of a taking pictures stoop with 10 factors and a few 3s as Auburn took management late within the first half.

Nonetheless, it is exhausting to get previous Smith, the 6-10 ahead who hit 4 3s to assist Auburn win its Tenth straight tournament-opening sport.

“I used to be able to play because the buzzer sounded in Tampa,” he stated, referring to the SEC regular-season champs’ first-round loss to Texas A&M within the convention event.

Pearl informed his gamers to get again to who they’re. “You are already champions, you are SEC champions,” he stated. “Now chill out, have some enjoyable.”

Auburn began having plenty of enjoyable late within the opening half when it went on a 17-3 run to take a 39-27 lead in opposition to Fifteenth-seeded Jacksonville State (21-11).

Auburn was on the right track from the skin. Okay.D. Johnson ended his taking pictures stoop — he was 0-14 within the SEC quarterfinal loss to Texas A&M — and had 10 factors and a few 3s in the course of the decisive spurt.

“I simply suppose we gave them too many open photographs,” Jacksonville State’s Jalen Gibbs stated. “As soon as the run received began, it was exhausting to cease.”

Gibbs, Division I’s fifth-leading 3-point shooter coming in, hit his third long-range shot of the half to place the Gamecocks up 24-22 about six minutes earlier than the break. That is when the Tigers received going.

Jaylin Williams had two 3-pointers and Johnson added one other as Auburn moved in entrance. Johnson adopted with a candy inside move to Kessler, who jammed it residence to the cheers of the pro-Auburn crowd.

Kessler adopted with a three-point play and Johnson capped it with a second 3 for a 39-27 lead. He ran downcourt screaming, leaping and pointing towards his bench after hitting the shot.

Jacksonville State minimize a 24-point deficit in half at 67-55 with lower than seven minutes left however received no nearer.

The enjoyable for Auburn culminated on Smith’s energy drive beginning on the 3-point line and ending along with his large dunk over the Gamecocks’ 6-10 ahead Brandon Huffman.

“I did not know he was going to do this,” Johnson stated. “He by no means did that in apply. That was the primary time he confirmed me he can get that prime, in order that was loopy.”

Smith simply smiled at Johnson’s feedback. “I am prepared for the subsequent one,” Smith stated.

Kessler’s pursuit of the NCAA Event’s Tenth triple-double could have been damage when he banged into teammate Jaylin Williams’ enamel within the second half and missed a number of minutes as trainers handled a minimize on his elbow.

Williams received the worst of it, although, with two chipped enamel. Pearl stated Williams’ will likely be evaluated for a concussion and is not sure of his standing for Sunday. Williams made all three of his photographs for eight factors in seven minutes.

Smith completed along with his sixth double-double of the season whereas the Tigers added to their first-round success. Solely Kansas, with 14 straight opening wins, and Gonzaga, with 13, are forward of Auburn.

Gibbs hit 4 3s and led the Gamecocks with 20 factors.

BIG PICTURE

Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks took the ASUN’s automated bid regardless of shedding the league event closing to Bellarmine, which is transitioning to Division I and ineligible for the event. Their perspective was to profit from the chance and for a lot of the opening half they did. The group has eight upperclassmen, and most will likely be again subsequent season.

Auburn: The Tigers reached the Closing 4 of their earlier NCAA journey three years in the past earlier than a drama-filled defeat to Virginia within the semifinals. Auburn performed prefer it expects to be taking part in on the ultimate weekend. Do not guess in opposition to it with the Smith and Kessler main the best way inside and Williams and Johnson making outdoors photographs.

RENEWED RIVALRY

Pearl and Jacksonville State coach Ray Harper return, manner again. The 2 had been rival coaches in Division II, Pearl main Southern Indiana and Harper at Kentucky Wesleyan. The colleges had been about 40 miles aside and each finally received nationwide titles beneath Pearl and Harper.

“I am positive the folks again in Evansville, Indiana, and Owensboro, Kentucky, had been tuned into that sport, as they need to,” Pearl joked.

“I’ve a lot respect for Coach Harper. I’m very happy with the best way we performed,” Pearl stated.

UP NEXT

Auburn seems to be to achieve the Candy 16.