ATLANTA (Interstat) — Keyshawn Hall scored 22 points and Auburn used a decisive rebounding advantage and a parade to the free-throw line to pull away from Chattanooga for a 92-78 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday.

A crowd of 1,200 at a neutral site saw the Tigers improve to 8-3 while the Mocs fell to 5-6.

The game’s pivotal stretch came early in the second half. Leading 43-38 at halftime, Auburn opened the final period with a 12-2 run, fueled by aggressive play in the paint and Chattanooga turnovers. The Tigers scored the first seven points after the break, with Elyjah Freeman converting two free throws and Hall adding a layup. After a Jordan Frison free throw briefly interrupted the surge, Auburn scored the next five points, capped by a Sebastian Williams-Adams assist on a Kaden Magwood 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 52-40.

Chattanooga, which had hung close by shooting 50% in the first half, went cold and could not recover from the deficit. The Mocs were outrebounded 12-3 on the offensive glass, leading to a 17-2 disadvantage in second-chance points. Auburn also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 29 of 37 attempts compared to Chattanooga’s 17 of 20.

Hall, a 6-foot-7 forward from Cleveland, Ohio, filled the stat sheet for Auburn, adding six assists and a block to his team-high point total in 35 minutes. His all-around play helped the Tigers overcome 13 turnovers. Tahaad Pettiford of Jersey City, New Jersey, also scored 20 points for Auburn, including four 3-pointers. Freeman, from Palm Beach, Florida, contributed 19 points and Williams-Adams of Houston had eight points and five assists.

Chattanooga was led by guard Jordan Frison of Memphis, Tennessee, who scored 20 points and dished out six assists. Teddy Washington from Blytheville, Arkansas, added 16 points and Billy Smith of Indianapolis scored 14. The Mocs shot 45.8% from the field but were hampered by only 10 assists on 27 made baskets and a lack of extra possessions.

Auburn set the tone early with defensive intensity, blocking three shots in the opening minutes. The Tigers built a 20-11 lead midway through the first half behind 3-pointers from Pettiford and Hall. Chattanooga responded with a 9-2 run, keyed by 3-pointers from Smith and Tate Darner, to close within 22-20. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the half, with Auburn taking its five-point lead into the break after Freeman hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.

The Tigers’ second-half opening blitz then created the separation they would maintain the rest of the way. Chattanooga cut the lead to nine points on several occasions but could not get stops consistently enough to mount a serious threat. Auburn’s offense operated efficiently, posting an offensive rating of 128.5 points per 100 possessions.

Auburn next faces a major test, traveling to face Purdue in Indianapolis on Dec. 20. Chattanooga visits Bellarmine on Wednesday.