Auburn defeated Seattle University 91-85 at Neville Arena on March 22, advancing to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. Kevin Overton and Elyjah Freeman led Auburn’s offense with a combined eight three-pointers.
The win is significant for Auburn as it moves them closer to the NIT semifinals and marks their continued strong performance at home. The Tigers are now set to host Nevada in the upcoming quarterfinal matchup.
Auburn coach Steven Pearl said, “I want to thank our fans that came out tonight. Our guys felt their presence, and they’ve been phenomenal for us all year.” Pearl added about Overton’s play: “KO’s been playing well offensively since SEC play got started. Every time he shoots it, we think it’s going in. He’s been a great spark for us offensively.”
Overton scored 23 points, reaching the 20-point mark for the fifth time in March. Freeman contributed with four second-half three-pointers while playing the entire game and collecting seven rebounds. “Being able to do things all around the court,” Freeman said. “Trying to help our team at both ends. Staying confident and trusting the shot.”
Keyshawn Hall was another key contributor with 15 rebounds, nearly matching Seattle U’s total by himself, along with five assists and nine points. Sebastian Williams-Adams had a perfect shooting night from the field (6-for-6), scoring 15 points along with three assists and two steals.
Auburn extended its nation-best non-conference home winning streak to 66 games and improved its record at Neville Arena since the start of the 2021-22 season to 71-9. The Tigers out-rebounded Seattle U by a margin of nearly two-to-one over forty minutes.
Looking ahead, Auburn seeks its twentieth win of the season as it prepares for its next game against Nevada in hopes of securing a trip to Indianapolis for the NIT semifinals.
