Johni Broome had 19 points, 12 rebounds and five blocked shots, and No. 9 Auburn defeated Iowa 83-75 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Thursday.
The Tigers (21-12) made 11 of 12 free throws in the last four minutes to end a second-round matchup with No. 1 Houston or Northern Kentucky.
Broome even made his ninth 3-pointer of the season to take the lead into double figures for the first time with 16 minutes to go.
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Dylan Cardwell #44 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after a shot in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
The Tigers appeared poised to pull away in front of a partisan orange-blue crowd, moving up 17 with a 13-2 run midway through the second half, sparked by Tre Donaldson’s three 3-pointers off the bench.
The eighth-seeded Hawkeyes climbed back in, twice reducing it to four, but didn’t get any closer.
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Auburn let five players score in double figures. Wendell Green Jr. had 15 points and Donaldson and KD Johnson each finished with 11. Allen Flanigan scored 10.
Payton Sandford scored 21 points for Iowa. Kris Murray had 15 points on 5-of-18 shooting and nine rebounds. Filip Rebraca scored 14 points.
Johni Broome #4 of the Auburn Tigers and Kris Murray #24 of the Iowa Hawkeyes battle for the ball during the second half of the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
BIG PICTURE
Auburn: Made seven 3-pointers in the second half after a 1-of-9 start.
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Iowa: Just short of fifth straight 20-win season. Missed all nine 3-point attempts in the first half and finished 7 of 27 (25.9%) from deep.
KD Johnson #0 of the Auburn Tigers reacts after a three point basket in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Legacy Arena at BJCC on March 16, 2023 in Birmingham, Alabama. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
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Auburn is 1-6 all-time against Houston and is among favorites to win it all.
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