Cardwell’s big day spearheads Auburn’s victory over USC

AUBURN, Ala. – Dylan Cardwell met Boogie Ellis in midair, blocking the USC star’s shot and playing to the crowd in a decibel-cranking sequence that summarized Sunday’s 91-75 Auburn win at Neville Arena.

One of five Tigers in double figures, Cardwell scored a career-high 11 points and grabbed a team-high five rebounds, adding three steals, two blocked shots and two assists.

“That’s the best Dylan Cardwell’s played on both ends of the floor,” Auburn coach Bruce pearl said. “Dylan is such a great ambassador for us. He does it on and off the court, in the community. When he plays like this, the next level is a possibility for him. We won the battle at point guard and we won the battle in the paint with our five men. Those are two important wins.”

Aden Holloway led Auburn with 15 points, hitting a deep 3-pointer for the Tigers’ final bucket against a team that features future NBA lottery picks and the sons of NBA stars Lebron James and Dennis Rodman. “Of course it’s going to get you a little juiced up and ready to play,” Holloway said of the ESPN telecast, Southern California’s lineup and approximately 45 NBA scouts in attendance. “I feel like this team (Auburn) can be a great team. When me and Tre (Donaldson) are playing well, it’s hard to stop when you have two floor generals who know how to run the offense and get guys the ball without turning the ball over.”

Holloway dished out six assists without any turnovers, helping Auburn commit only eight turnovers, the Tigers’ third straight game with single digit turnovers.

Jaylin Williams scored 14 points, Denver Jones added 12 and Johnni Broome added 11 while leading Auburn with four blocked shots.

Basketball hall of famer Charles Barkley congratulated the Tigers as the game concluded, joining the team at midcourt for its postgame prayer.

Auburn University students took a break from their break, returning to The Jungle en masse to create a home-court advantage reminiscent of an SEC Saturday.

“Great crowd tonight. I want to thank the Auburn students for coming back from break,” Pearl said. “We’ve got three more games at home before we start league play. Right now the focus will be about the kids’ recovery and rest. We’ll get some great lifts this week and individual workouts and see if we can build on this.”

Leading by 14 at the half, Auburn extended its lead to 23 midway through the second half on Tre Donaldson’s 3-point play. Donaldson scored seven points and had five assists with only one turnover.

“They value possessions, and they understand advantage-disadvantage in transition,” Pearl said of Auburn’s point guards, who combined for 22 points, 11 assists and only one turnover. “They shared it.”

Auburn scored 49 first-half points with Williams providing a dozen on 5-of-7 shooting. Wiliams hit a corner 3-pointer off the opening tip against USC’s zone defense.

Trailing by three early, Auburn scored 11 straight points, ending the run on Cardwell’s dunk after an assist from Donaldson, who combined with Holloway to distribute eight first-half assists without any turnovers.

Auburn ended the half with a 6-0 run on 3-pointers from Jones and Holloway to put the Tigers ahead 49-35.

Seeking their fourth straight win and the program’s 50th consecutive non-conference home victory, the Tigers (8-2) remain at Neville Arena Friday when they host Alabama State at 7 p.m. CT.