CINCINNATI (AP) – Jalen Reynolds had a season-high 18 points as Xavier’s front line dominated, and the 10th-ranked Musketeers got their best start in school history by beating Auburn 85-61 on Saturday afternoon.
Xavier (11-0) was comfortably ahead the whole way after an opening 8-0 run. The Musketeers’ forwards had a big game, with Reynolds leading the way. James Farr had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Xavier got 15 offensive rebounds while dominating the boards 42-26.
Auburn (5-3) hadn’t trailed by more than 14 points all season. The Tigers fell behind by 16 midway through the first half and never recovered, taking their most lopsided loss of the season. They’ve lost their last 18 games against top 10 teams.
Kareem Canty, who leads the Tigers at 19.3 points per game, was their only consistent threat. He finished with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Nobody else had more than 12.
The Tigers gave Xavier one of its most stinging losses last season, 89-88 in double overtime at Auburn. The rematch was no match.
Trevon Bluiett, who had a season-low three points in Xavier’s 10-point win over crosstown rival Cincinnati a week earlier, opened the game by hitting a 3-pointer. Xavier pulled out to an 8-0 lead as Auburn missed its first four shots.
The Musketeers missed several layups but stayed ahead the rest of the half. Reynolds had a bank shot off the edge of the backboard and a pair of free throws during a 9-1 spurt that built the lead to 16 points midway through the half.
Canty hit a 3 in the closing seconds that cut Xavier’s halftime lead to 39-30. Canty had 14 in the half – no other Tiger managed more than four. Reynolds had 14 points and five rebounds.
Bluiett hit a pair of 3s as Xavier pushed the lead back to 16 points early in the second half. The Musketeers also got the ball inside and repeatedly drew fouls, with Tyler Harris picking up his fifth at the 12:07 mark.
TIP-INS
Auburn: The Tigers are 24-105 all-time against top 10 teams, their last win a 68-62 victory over No. 8 Wake Forest in the 2003 NCAA Tournament. They’ve lost 20 straight games on a Top 10 opponent’s home court. Their last such road win was Jan. 23, 1993 at No. 8 Arkansas. The Tigers are 2-54 on the road against Top 10 teams.
Xavier: The Musketeers’ previous best start was 10-0 during the 1996-97 season. … They improved to 18-5 against SEC teams since 2008.
UP NEXT
Auburn: The Tigers play New Mexico on Tuesday in the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.
Xavier: The Musketeers play at Wake Forest on Tuesday in the Skip Prosser Classic.
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