AUBURN, Ala. — Toughness and persistence from App State Men's Basketball contributed to a half-ending rally that left Auburn holding just a two-point lead in a building noted for home success and sellouts, but the Tigers pulled away in the final 10 minutes of a 75-53 victory Monday night.
 
It was the 87th straight sellout at the 9,121-seat Neville Arena, and Auburn extended its nonconference home winning streak to a nation's-best 69 straight games dating back to the 2016-17 home opener (or 71 straight games counting two vacated victories later in that same season).
 
App State's Eren Banks scored 11 of his team-high 19 points during an 18-7 run to close an eventful half that ended with Auburn in front 38-36, and the Mountaineers (2-1) were within 41-39 four minutes into the second half. Auburn (2-0) used a 9-0 run to push the margin to double figures before Ben Kopetzki converted a layup to cap a possession that included two hard-fought offensive rebounds apiece from Ted Neal and Chad Moodie.
 
George Kimble III drew a shooting foul with Auburn holding a 51-44 lead midway through the second half, and he went to the floor following prolonged contact on his right arm, leading officials to call a Flagrant 1 foul. The Tigers were ahead 59-44 a minute later as Kimble made both free throws, Adam Olsen turned it into a five-point possession with a 3-pointer and Olsen added another 3 on the next trip.
 
It grew to a 19-4 run that pushed Auburn's lead above 20 points against the Mountaineers, who committed eight fouls in the first eight minutes after halftime and were held to 17 second-half points.
 
Banks' 19 points came on 7-for-15 shooting from the field, while Jaylen Colon also hit three 3-pointers and reached double figures in an 11-point, seven-rebound performance. Moodie grabbed five offensive rebounds and blocked two shots for App State, which returns to action Friday night at Charlotte in Halton Arena.
 
Preseason All-SEC guard Taha Pettiford scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Tigers, who had three starters go scoreless during the opening half.
 
Returning to the state where his collegiate career began, Colon opened the game with a 3-pointer, but Auburn scored the next 10 points. The Tigers were ahead 31-18 before App State controlled the last six-plus minutes of the half, with Banks hitting three 3s and then drilling a fadeaway jumper in the closing seconds to cap the 18-7 run.
 
With Colon hitting two 3s and Kopetzki adding one, the Mountaineers' starting guards combined for six 3s in the first 20 minutes. App State shot 6-for-29 from the field and 1-for-11 from 3-point range in the second half.
 
Sport-specific giving allows you to directly support App State student-athletes and help provide them the resources they need to be successful. Click here to contribute to the Men's Basketball support fund.
 
Keep up with App State Men's Basketball wherever you go by following the Mountaineers on social media. Follow @AppStateMBB on X, Instagram and Facebook. Download the App State Athletics App for iOS or Android to keep the Mountaineers at your fingertips.