Surely, Auburn and North Carolina gave everybody the track and field competition meet they were expecting. At last, however, the Tigers were the ones as yet run towards the finish line – and their second Elite Eight appearance in school history.
Auburn got noteworthy minutes and points from its role players and seat in a 97-80 win over the Tar Heels. In a game when Jared Harper and Bryce Brown were not significant contributors – they completed with a consolidated 21 points on 6 of 15 shooting from the field – Auburn depended on different names to take care of business. The greatest surprise originated from forward Chuma Okeke, who shot 73 percent and was 3 of 5 from past the circular arc. He completed with a twofold of 20 points and 11 bounce back. Notwithstanding, Okeke left the game in the second half with alarming looking knee injury and did not return. When heading to the basket, Okeke’s left leg locked and he writhed in pain on the court before walking gingerly to the locker room.
Somewhere else, Danjel Purifoy and J’Von McCormick fell off the seat to hit some hotshot shots. Purifoy was 4 of 6 from 3-point land while McCormick had 10 points and was an incredible two-way nearness driving the ball to the basket and nabbing two steals on defense.
It really is ideal mentor Bruce Pearl is comfortable playing 10 on the grounds that Auburn got its best games from its role players. While it was as yet a commonplace Tigers track meet – Pearl’s team shot 46 percent from three at 37 endeavors – it didn’t unfurl from the standard names. Auburn’s bench outscored North Carolina’s 40-21.
The Tar Heels couldn’t purchase a bucket from beyond the arc. By the time it was clear they needed to play catch-up, it was too late. Roy Williams will lament the effort from his players in the first half. Auburn was out-rebounding North Carolina in the first half and giving great effort in second-chance offense as well as on defense.
As a result, Auburn will play either No. 3-seed Houston or No. 2-seed Kentucky on Sunday.