4 Auburn Comes All the Way Back Against 5 Iowa State in Maui

LAHAINA, Hawaii – Two top five teams delivered its promise for a heavyweight bout as Auburn completes its biggest comeback since 2020 winning a barn burner 83-81. 

In the waning seconds of regulation, the game’s leading scorer from Iowa State Keshon Gilbert coughed up the ball driving to the rim, giving Auburn the last shot. Denver Jones attacked the basket and missed, but Johni Broome was there underneath to tip it in with only 1.2 seconds remaining.

Cramping brought Broome to the floor where he watched the desperate Hail Mary heave fall short for Iowa State, clinching a massive Quad 1 win in Hawaii. 

This game was a tale of two halves as Iowa State dominated the first frame in every aspect, leading by as much as 18. The Cyclones scored at nearly a 20% higher clip over Auburn, shooting 58.1% to Auburn's 38.5%. ISU took advantage of Auburn’s seven turnovers, earning 14 fast break points over only three for Auburn. 

Vibes were high for Iowa State. Up 16 at half, Gilbert and Joshua Jefferson were perfect from the field, the Cyclones were looking ahead to the final game of the night between Dayton and North Carolina to see their opponent tomorrow in the winners bracket. 

Then T.J. Otzelberger blinked and his Cyclones had given up a 20-4 run with only one made field goal. His team’s 16 point lead officially vanished at the 13:51 mark, tied at 53. 

Fast forward to 4:33, a 3-pointer by Broome tied the game again at 73. Two Denver Jones free throws gave Auburn their first lead of the game, then Jones hit a jumper of his own the next possession extending the Tigers to their biggest lead. 

The biggest irony of the game was Gilbert turning the ball over with 12 seconds left allowing Auburn to drive and recover an offensive board before Broome tipped home the winner in the paint. 

In the first half, Iowa State dominated the turnover battle with a 7-1 ratio and led 24-12 in paint points. A key aspect of Auburn coming back was that shots started to fall, they doubled the Cyclones in offensive boards for the game 10-5, and scored the winning points in the paint. 

A nightmare turn of events for Iowa State.  

After Iowa State’s defense held Auburn nearly 20% under their own field goal percentage in the first half, Auburn settled in and gashed them offensively. The field goal percentages at the end of the game? 47.5% to 47.2% in favor of Auburn. 

Auburn snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, ripping Iowa State’s metaphorical jaw open and unhinged. 

Broome, playing hero in blue and orange, posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Offensively, it was a team effort for Auburn as four other Tigers provided double-digit points in an explosive second half barrage. 

Chad Baker-Mazara went 3-4 from deep adding 18 points, Denver Jones and Miles Kelly each tacked on 12, and Tahaad Pettiford recorded 14 points helping Auburn dismantle the vaunted Iowa State defense 50-32 in the second half. 

The 2024 Maui Invitational has delivered thus far on its reputation of great theatrics on the hardwood. Earlier in the day, two-time defending national champion No. 2 UConn lost an overtime thriller to Memphis as Dan Hurley found himself in hot water for a poorly timed technical late and not so tongue in cheek comments on officiating post game. 

Auburn will look ahead to the winner of Dayton and UNC while Iowa State will have to regroup to face the loser and likely have to deal with UConn if they can rebound.