Mahan helps UCF hold off Auburn 63-55 in season opener
ORLANDO, Fla. -- — Brandon Mahan scored all 12 of his points in the second half, including four of UCF's final six free throws, and the Knights held off Auburn 63-55 down the stretch to win a season-opener Monday night.
Mahan played four minutes in the first half but all of the second, making 4 of 8 shots, all four free throws and three steals, two defensive rebounds and an assist.
Mahan made his presence felt with a steal just over two minutes into the second half, leading to a Dre Fuller Jr. 3-pointer. In the final two minutes, he scored on a drive to the basket that pushed the lead to eight, deflected an inbound pass for a takeaway, stole another pass and hit four from the line.
Fuller and Tony Johnson Jr. carried the Knights through a low-scoring first half, combining for 14 of UCF's 30 points. Fuller ended the game with 13 and Darin Green Jr. added 10.
Jamal Johnson led Auburn (1-2) with 18 points, draining five 3-pointers, matching his career high. Jaylin Williams added eight points and eight rebounds.
The Tigers were 32% from the floor (20-of-62), 7-of-34 from deep, and committed 22 turnovers. They were 8 of 22 from the free-throw line.
“Ah, well, that was ugly. Set the game of basketball back a few years,” Tigers coach Bruce Pearl said.
------
More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP--Top25
Game Information
- Referees:
- Anthony Jordan
- Don Daily
- Rob Rorke
2023-24 Southeastern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Tennessee | 14-4 | - | 27-9 |
Auburn | 13-5 | 1 | 27-8 |
South Carolina | 13-5 | 1 | 26-8 |
Kentucky | 13-5 | 1 | 23-10 |
Alabama | 13-5 | 1 | 25-12 |
Florida | 11-7 | 3 | 24-12 |
Texas A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 21-15 |
LSU | 9-9 | 5 | 17-16 |
Mississippi State | 8-10 | 6 | 21-14 |
Ole Miss | 7-11 | 7 | 20-12 |
Georgia | 6-12 | 8 | 20-17 |
Arkansas | 6-12 | 8 | 16-17 |
Vanderbilt | 4-14 | 10 | 9-23 |
Missouri | 0-18 | 14 | 8-24 |
2023-24 Big 12 Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Houston | 15-3 | - | 32-5 |
Iowa State | 13-5 | 2 | 29-8 |
Baylor | 11-7 | 4 | 24-11 |
Texas Tech | 11-7 | 4 | 23-11 |
BYU | 10-8 | 5 | 23-11 |
Kansas | 10-8 | 5 | 23-11 |
Texas | 9-9 | 6 | 21-13 |
TCU | 9-9 | 6 | 21-13 |
Oklahoma | 8-10 | 7 | 20-12 |
Kansas State | 8-10 | 7 | 19-15 |
Cincinnati | 7-11 | 8 | 22-15 |
UCF | 7-11 | 8 | 17-16 |
Oklahoma State | 4-14 | 11 | 12-20 |
West Virginia | 4-14 | 11 | 9-23 |