Cancun Challenge Champs: No. 13 Auburn beats Northwestern 43-42
Special release to Auburn Live from Auburn Athletics
On a night when both teams struggled to make shots, it was altogether fitting that No. 13 Auburn won the Cancun Challenge by getting a stop on defense.
Wendell Green Jr.’s steal led to Allen Flanigan’s layup with 32 seconds to go, then the Tigers forced a tough shot in the final seconds that Green rebounded to preserve Auburn’s 43-42 victory vs. Northwestern in the championship game.
“To hold Northwestern to 42 points tells you about our effort and our energy, and our defense,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “That’s got to carry us.”
It took 40 minutes, but Auburn’s superior depth finally wore down Northwestern, which utilized only seven players.
“We got a great stop at the end,” Pearl said. “Part of the reason why we play 11 guys is so at the end and at the last possession our guys can be fresh enough to get that stop.”
K.D. Johnson led Auburn with 12 points, including 7-for-7 from the free-throw line. Tournament MVP Jaylin Williams scored 11 points. Green led the Tigers with 10 rebounds, all on the defensive end.
“Wendell had an off night but he was there at the end,” Pearl said. “K.D. and Al I thought really played well, and Jaylin Williams made some big, big shots and had some big plays and some big rebounds. You need to be able to count on your veterans and that’s why we won the game.”
Hundreds of Auburn fans, witnesses as Pearl calls them, chanted “It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger” as the teams shook hands.
Tied 19-19 at the half, Williams began the second half as he did the first, hitting a 3-pointer.
The Wildcats missed their first 17 long-range attempts before Ty Berry gave Northwestern a 31-25 lead with a 3-pointer.
Johnson answered for Auburn with an and-one that kept the Tigers within three points with 11:34to play in the game.
Auburn’s full-court press yielded a turnover and another Williams’ 3-pointer to tie the score at 31-31.
Williams made a steal and dunked in transition thanks to Johnson’s assist, then Johni Broome scored in the paint to cap a 10-0 Auburn run that gave the Tigers a 35-31 lead. Broome, who joined Williams on the All-Tournament team, grabbed eight rebounds and scored five points.
Northwestern responded, taking the lead on a 3-pointer before Green scored in the paint with 1:44to play to put Auburn ahead 41-40.
The Wildcats regained the lead with a layup and made a steal in the final minute before Green’s steal set up Flanigan for the eventual game-winning bucket.
“Our offensive execution leaves a lot to be desired,” Pearl said. “But we showed heart, we showed character, we showed toughness, and we gutted this one out.”
Early 3-pointers by Flanigan and Williams gave Auburn a 13-4 lead but the Tigers went cold from there.
Flanigan led Auburn with five first-half points but played only eight minutes after picking up three fouls.
Northwestern was 0-for-12 in the first half from 3-point range and finished making only 2 of 24 3-point attempts while Auburn was 5-for-21, including three from Jaylin Williams on six attempts.
The Tigers outrebounded the Wildcats 44-36.
Auburn (6-0) returns to Neville Arena Sunday at 2 p.m. CT to play Saint Louis.
NORTHWESTERN POSTGAME NOTES
• Auburn started Wendell Green Jr., Zep Jasper, Chris Moore, Jaylin Williams and Johni Broome (5-0).
• With the win, Auburn leads 1-0 in the all-time series with Northwestern. It was the first meeting between the two schools.
• Jaylin Williams was named tournament MVP. He and Johni Broome were named to the Cancun Challenge All-Tournament Team.
• Wendell Green Jr. pulled down a season-high and career-high tying 10 rebounds versus Northwestern.
• Auburn scored a season-low 43 points. It was the fewest points since scoring 45 at Tennessee on Feb. 9, 2016.
• The Tigers scored 19 first-half points – the fewest in a first half since 19 versus Clemson in the 2018 NCAA Second Round.
• Auburn is now 5-1 all-time in Cancun Challenge games. The Tigers previously traveled to Cancun in 2016. It marked their first Riviera Division championship trophy in two all-time appearances in the tournament.
• The Tigers outrebounded the Wildcats, 44-36. It was the fifth time this season to outboard an opponent.
• Jaylin Williams is currently on a season-best three-game double-digit scoring streak with 11 points versus Northwestern. It marked the 25th double-figure game of his career.
• For the third-straight game, K.D. Johnson scored in double figures with 12 points including a perfect 7-for-7 performance from the free throw line versus Northwestern. It marked his fourth of the season and 41st of his career.
• The Tigers shot a season-low 25.0 percent from the field and behind the 3-point arc (8.3%).
• There were four ties in the ballgame, the most of the season against a Tiger opponent. AU previously had three times in the game versus Texas Southern on Nov. 18.
• The Tigers’ defense held Northwestern without scoring for the first 4:40 minutes of the contest.
RIVIERA DIVISION ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jaylin Williams (Auburn) – MVP
Johni Broome (Auburn)
Chase Audige (Northwestern)
Ty Berry (Northwestern)
Malevy Leons (Bradley)
Darius McGhee (Liberty)
