Auburn vs. Michigan
LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Michigan Wolverines delivered an offensive masterclass, overwhelming the Auburn Tigers with a dominant first-half performance en route to a 102-72 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
The Wolverines remained undefeated, improving to 6-0, while the Tigers fell to 5-2.
Michigan seized control of the game from the opening tip, building an insurmountable lead in the first half. The Wolverines shot a blistering 59 percent from the field and connected on eight three-pointers before halftime, racing to a 59-31 lead at the break. The offensive explosion was a team effort, with six Michigan players scoring in double figures for the game.
Yaxel Lendeborg led the balanced Wolverines attack with 17 points, four assists and a steal. Morez Johnson and Nimari Burnett each added 15 points, with Johnson contributing three assists and a block. Roddy Gayle also scored 17 points, while Trey McKenney and LJ Cason chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively.
Auburn, which entered the game with a 76 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system, struggled to find any consistent rhythm against Michigan’s stifling defense and efficient offense. The Tigers were plagued by poor shooting, making just 22 of 62 field goal attempts and a dismal 18 of 33 from the free-throw line.
Tahaad Pettiford led Auburn with 16 points, including four three-pointers. Keyshawn Hall added 15 points, Filip Jovic scored 13 and KeShawn Murphy finished with 12.
The statistical disparity was stark. Michigan scored 102 points on 74 possessions for an offensive rating of 137.0, while Auburn managed just 72 points on 73 possessions for a rating of 99.1. The Wolverines also outshot the Tigers from the floor, 35 of 68 to 22 of 62, and from beyond the arc, 14 of 35 to 10 of 24.
The game was part of a challenging early-season stretch for Auburn, which had defeated Oregon 84-73 the previous night. Michigan, coming off a 94-54 rout of San Diego State, continued its perfect start and will look to extend it Wednesday against Gonzaga. Auburn’s next game is at home against North Carolina State on Dec. 3.