BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — What a game. Auburn turned a five-point halftime lead into a 17-point lead midway through the second half, then held off a furious Iowa run to win 83-75 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Johni Broome #4 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers react after a basket during the first half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Lior Berman #24 of the Auburn Tigers drives the basket against Filip Rebraca #0 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 of the Auburn Tigers drives the basket against Kris Murray #24 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Dylan Cardwell #44 of the Auburn Tigers dunks the ball over Kris Murray #24 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers drives the basket against Filip Rebraca #0 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after a three point basket during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Dylan Cardwell #44 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after a basket during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers drives against Kris Murray #24 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Johni Broome #4 of the Auburn Tigers and Kris Murray #24 of the Iowa Hawkeyes battle for the ball during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 of the Auburn Tigers attempts a three point basket during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after a three point basket during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Johni Broome #4 of the Auburn Tigers blocks a shot by Tony Perkins #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 of the Auburn Tigers reacts during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Tre Donaldson #3 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after a three point basket during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Tre Donaldson #3 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates with teammates after a three point basket during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after a three point basket by Tre Donaldson #3 during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Tre Donaldson #3 of the Auburn Tigers drives the basket against Tony Perkins #11 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers coaches Tre Donaldson #3 during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers react during a timeout during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: K.D. Johnson #0 and Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers react during a timeout during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Wendell Green Jr. #1 of the Auburn Tigers shoots over Filip Rebraca #0 of the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Jaylin Williams #2 of the Auburn Tigers dunks the ball during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Johni Broome #4 of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the closing seconds during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts after the victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Allen Flanigan #22 of the Auburn Tigers scores a basket during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA – MARCH 16: Jaylin Williams #2 of the Auburn Tigers goes up for a dunk during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at the BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
