No. 13 Auburn rallies from 13-point deficit in win over SLU

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Walter Kessler scored 19 points, grabbed nine rebounds and blocked four shots, and Wendell Green Jr. and Jabari Smith each scored 13 points to help No. 13 Auburn overcome a 13-point deficit to beat Saint Louis 74-70 Saturday night.

K.D. Johnson hit a jump shot with nine seconds remaining to put Auburn (10-1) up 72-70, and Billikens forward Frances Okoro missed a pair of free throws with two seconds left.

Terrence Hargrove Jr. led Saint Louis (8-4) with 17 points and Yuri Collins added 13 points, a career-high 12 rebounds and eight assists.

Saint Louis was up 60-47 with 9:13 remaining due to a 9-0 run during which Auburn coach Bruce Pearl being called for a technical foul. Auburn countered by outscoring Saint Louis 27-10 for the remainder of the contest for its seventh straight win.

Lior Berman hit a 3 with 2:14 remaining to give Auburn its first lead since 13:26 remaining in the first half.

Auburn held a 35-27 halftime lead after outscoring Saint Louis 26-13 over the final 10:42 of the first half. The Billikens didn’t score in the final 4:04. Saint Louis answered with a 9-0 run of its own in the first 4:08 of the second half.

BIG PICTURE

Auburn: Currently owns the second-longest winning streak among SEC teams — behind only No. 19 LSU, which defeated Louisiana Tech 66-57 Saturday night.

Saint Louis: Despite not having a player taller than 6-foot-9, the Billikens outrebounded the Tigers 46-27 and grabbed 19 offensive rebounds.

WELCOME BACK

Pearl was back on the bench after

UP NEXT:

Auburn: Hosts Murray State on Wednesday.

Saint Louis: Faces Drake on Wednesday in Las Vegas.

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