The Tigers beat the Jayhawks 89-75.
The first matchup went well for the blue blood. Gonzaga advanced. The final matchup of the night went to the less flashy program. Without a McDonald’s All-American on the roster, Bryce Brown’s 25 points on 7-of-11 from three powered Auburn past Kansas 89-75 Saturday night at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Chuma Okeke said his team was “undervalued” and overlooked. Only Okeke and Austin Wiley were recruited by the Jayhawks. The Tigers will make just their 5th appearance in the Sweet 16 and first in 16 years (1985, 1986, 1999, and 2003). Far cry from Rock Chalk’s 31.
Auburn did it with threes and defense. Okeke and the Tigers zone controlled Dedric Lawson. He scored 25, but on 8-of-17 shooting. Kansas coughed the ball up 16 times for 20 Auburn points.
Next up War Eagle will play another blue blood (North Carolina) or a Spiderman meme upstart (Washington).
