Auburn Remains Unbeaten at Home after Win over USC Upstate

Mustapha Heron (Photo: Andy Hanson)

Auburn Men’s Basketball fought off a second half rally on Tuesday night by USC Upstate and earned their fifth win of the year, 90-83 inside Auburn Arena. In their last two games, Auburn’s opponents have had furious second-half rallies. Auburn held off Texas Tech in game one of the Cancun Challenge, 65-63, but allowed the Red Raiders to score 42 points in the second half. Purdue outscored Auburn in Wednesday’s Riviera Bracket Championship 53-30 in the second half to push past the Tigers, 96-71. Tuesday’s game with USC Upstate had the same feel. Despite shooting 39% from the field, Auburn had a 42-32 lead at the half. The Tigers could not pull away from USC Upstate, as the Spartans scored 51 points in the second half to keep the game close. However, it was a solid performance from freshman Mustapha Heron that propelled Auburn to the win, and to remain unbeaten at home. Heron ended the night with 23 points, 6 rebounds, and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. All-in-all, four Tigers ended the night with a double-digit point total and with 4 rebounds. Off the bench, Auburn scored 37 points, with newcomer LaRon Smith leading the way. The transfer from Bethune-Cookman was the second leading scorer with 15 points. He also had a solid night on the rebounding front, with 5 offensive rebounds. Auburn Men’s Basketball hits the court again on Saturday, for a road contest with in-state rival UAB. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. inside Birmingham’s Bartow Arena.