Auburn vs Murray State: 2021-22 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Matt Melton
A matchup of 10-1 teams, Auburn and Murray State meet for a must-see mid-week matchup.
When: Wednesday, December 22 at 6:00 pm ET on SEC Network
Location: Auburn Arena, Auburn, AL
After strong starts to the season for both teams, Auburn hosts Murray State in a must-see non-conference showdown on Wednesday night.
Auburn are coming off an impressive 74-70 comeback win Saturday night at Saint Louis, a game in which the Tigers overcame a double-digit second half deficit. Despite shooting an impressive 46.7% in the contest (39.1% from three), Auburn did struggle in a few key areas, most notably being out-rebounded 46-27 by the Billikens.
Ranked as the No. 12 team in the country, the Tigers sit at 10-1 on the year (5-0 at home) and have won seven games in a row which include some impressive wins over the likes of Loyola-Chicago, Syracuse, and UCF.
Averaging 82 PPG while allowing 65.5 PPG, the Tigers are led by freshman forward Jabari Smith (16.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG) and guards KD Johnson and Wendell Green Jr, while 7’1 center Walker Kessler is also coming off one of his best games in an Auburn uniform where he added 19 points, nine rebounds, and four blocks.
Murray State, on the other hand, is also coming off a win as the Racers defeated Chattanooga 87-76 on Saturday night. In a game in which Murray State pulled away late, the Racers shot an impressive 48.4% from the field in the contest while also receiving 33 points and 9 rebounds from leading scorer Tevin Brown.
Having also won seven straight, the Racers sit at 10-1 on the year and are 2-0 in road games this season which includes an impressive win at Memphis. Averaging 86 PPG which allows 65.1 PPG to opponents, the previously mentioned Brown leads Murray State in scoring, while KJ Williams, Justice Hill, and Trae Hannibal also average in double-figures.
Next. What is the ceiling for Auburn in 2021-22?. dark
A must-see matchup between two of the top teams in the SEC and OVC, this should be a high-scoring contest between the Tigers and Racers. However, Auburn will have not only the home-court advantage, but also an advantage down low which will lead to big games from the likes of Kessler, Smith, and Williams en route to a win for the Tigers as they enter SEC play.
Prediction: Auburn 83, Murray State 72