Appalachian St. Mountaineers vs Auburn Tigers Match Player Stats On Dec 22, 2020

Justin Powell sparked a second-half surge and the host Auburn Tigers pulled away to defeat the cold-shooting Appalachian State Mountaineers 67-53 in their nonconference game on Tuesday afternoon.

Jaylin Williams scored 15 points, Jamal Johnson netted 14 and Allen Flanigan added 13 for Auburn (6-2), which begins Southeastern Conference play on Dec. 30 against Arkansas.

Powell, who entered as the Tigers' leading scorer at 14.6 points per game, was shut out in the first half but netted the first seven points of the second half as Auburn built a 10-point lead. He hit two of three free throws, nailed a 3-pointer on a fast break, and made a steal and scored on another break to put the Tigers up 41-31 with 15:56 left.

Powell finished with nine points, eight rebounds and five assists.

Michael Almonacy, who began the day averaging 8.3 points, led the Mountaineers (6-3) with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Adrian Delph added nine for the Mountaineers, who shot only 32.6 percent for the game and 26.1 percent (6 of 23) from long range.

Auburn pushed its lead to 45-33 about midway through the second half, but Appalachian State crept to within two on a 12-2 run, with Delph scoring seven.

Almonacy hit a trey with 8:56 left to pull the Mountaineers within 47-45, but Auburn went on a 12-0 burst, including 3-pointers by Thor and Flanigan.

Auburn shot 48.1 percent for the game, including 39.3 percent (11 of 28) from long range. The Tigers outrebounded the Mountaineers 38-21.

After missing their first six shots and falling behind 9-0, the Tigers hit 10 of their next 14, including six 3-pointers. They led 27-22 after Johnson scored seven straight points, including a pair of treys.

Johnson, who entered the game averaging 7.4 points per game, led the Tigers with 10 at halftime. Williams followed with nine, all on 3-pointers, and Flanigan added eight.

Auburn shot 44.4 percent for the half and 42.1 percent on 3-pointers and led 34-31 on a bomb from Williams with five seconds left.

Almonacy led the Mountaineers with 10 points at the half, including a layup with 14:46 left to cap an opening 9-0 run. Appalachian State shot 35.7 percent from the field and just 25 percent from long range before halftime.

Justin Forrest, named to the Sun Belt Conference preseason team, returned from missing three games with a concussion and scored five points in 15 minutes.

--Field Level Media