Sunday night in Auburn was a classic clash of styles: a top-15 offensive powerhouse at home against a gritty, upset-hungry top-20 defense. Auburn knew they had to dictate the pace, especially against a Seattle U team that thrives in low-scoring battles. The Redhawks had been holding opponents to under 66 points in five of their last six wins, making it clear they prefer to grind out games.
Auburn had just come off a shaky offensive start in their first-round NIT win over South Alabama, still reeling from missing the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers couldn't afford a sluggish start against Seattle U.
Freshman forward Sebastian Williams-Adams emphasized the urgency: “We know these teams can beat us in the first 10 minutes if we start slow.”
By the midway point of the first half, Auburn had seized the lead and launched a pivotal 11-0 run. They maintained a double-digit lead for almost the entire next 27 minutes, with Seattle U needing a late surge just to narrow the gap.
This time, Auburn was ready to play, lighting up one of the nation's best defenses with a 91-85 victory. Head coach Steven Pearl highlighted the importance of their strong start: “I told them, ‘If you get down against Seattle like we did with South Alabama, it’s going to be tough to come back.’”
Auburn forced Seattle U, known for its defensive prowess, to chase the game. The Tigers became only the second team this season to score 90 points on Seattle U, disrupting their defensive metrics across the board.
Elyjah Freeman, who played all 40 minutes, noted the team’s cohesive effort: “Trusting our offensive rebounding and allowing each other to knock down shots really helped us.”
Despite Seattle U's impressive 3-point shooting (16-31) and scoring over 80 points on a Division I opponent for the first time since November, they couldn't keep pace with the Tigers.
Auburn's defense, particularly against the 3-point line, remains a concern, as acknowledged by Pearl: “We need to improve defensively in the offseason.” But for now, the season continues.
As the No. 1 overall seed in the NIT, Auburn is the last high-major standing, set to host Nevada with a trip to the semifinals in Indianapolis on the line. This run provides valuable experience for a team with potential returners and a first-year head coach finding his footing.
Pearl sees the silver lining: “This has been great for getting extra reps and experience for our younger guys, something we can build on for the future.”
Here are four observations from Auburn’s win over Seattle U, along with rotation charts, nerd stats, and the quote of the night.
Elyjah Freeman steps up with maximum playing time
Coach Pearl challenged Freeman before the game, and the young wing delivered, making the most of his extended minutes.