AUBURN - A tie going into halftime against Rome Free Academy wasn't exactly what Auburn boys basketball coach Al Giannone was expecting after a nine-day layoff.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Auburn guard LeRon Agee takes a jump shot while Rome Free Academy's Earnest Hobdy attempts a block during the first half of Auburn's win at home on Friday night.
Auburn guard LeRon Agee takes a jump shot while Rome Free Academy's Earnest Hobdy attempts a block during the first half of Auburn's win at home on Friday night.
But the Maroons rebounded. Literally.
Auburn bounced back from a slow start, and controlled the glass in the second half en route to a 63-49 victory Friday night.
The Maroons (2-0) were at a disadvantage early as Damien Whitaker and Malcolm Bryant picked up multiple fouls early on, limiting their time in the first half. The Black Knights (1-5) took advantage, and would go on to out-rebound the Maroons 18-12 before halftime.
“When Damien got that second foul early in the first quarter, I was hoping to have a nice lead or have it close,” Giannone said. “That was our goal - and it was close.”
Holding a one-point lead going into the second quarter (13-12), Auburn got an instant lift from Manny Brooks, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds in his first varsity game. Brooks sparked a 6-0 Maroon run, but the Black Knights battled back to tie the game at 27-27 going into intermission.
After the break, Giannone opted to put Whitaker and Bryant back in with Brooks - a move that paid off instantly. Auburn opened with an 8-0 run, and kept RFA at arms length until another run gave the Maroons a 45-34 run to end the third.
“It got us that distance that we should have gotten from the get-go,” Giannone said.
Adding to RFA's troubles, Auburn got hot. The Maroons were 7-of-11 from the field in the third quarter, and the Black Knights were only able to convert on three shots.
Part of the problem was Auburn's defense, which forced 16 turnovers by the time the lead was in double-digits.
“I think there was four consecutive times that we were able to turn a quick shot or a turnover into a lay-up,” Giannone said.
The Maroons added to its lead in the fourth quarter, inching it up to 17 (59-42) before the Black Knights were able to find their shot. RFA closed the game with three baskets to make the score a little more manageable.
Whitaker led all scorers with 18 points, while Bryant added nine points and six rebounds. Auburn (2-0) travels to Baldwinsville next Tuesday for its first away game.
“It will be a good test for us, especially on the road,” Giannone said.
Auburn bounced back from a slow start, and controlled the glass in the second half en route to a 63-49 victory Friday night.
The Maroons (2-0) were at a disadvantage early as Damien Whitaker and Malcolm Bryant picked up multiple fouls early on, limiting their time in the first half. The Black Knights (1-5) took advantage, and would go on to out-rebound the Maroons 18-12 before halftime.
“When Damien got that second foul early in the first quarter, I was hoping to have a nice lead or have it close,” Giannone said. “That was our goal - and it was close.”
Holding a one-point lead going into the second quarter (13-12), Auburn got an instant lift from Manny Brooks, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds in his first varsity game. Brooks sparked a 6-0 Maroon run, but the Black Knights battled back to tie the game at 27-27 going into intermission.
After the break, Giannone opted to put Whitaker and Bryant back in with Brooks - a move that paid off instantly. Auburn opened with an 8-0 run, and kept RFA at arms length until another run gave the Maroons a 45-34 run to end the third.
“It got us that distance that we should have gotten from the get-go,” Giannone said.
Adding to RFA's troubles, Auburn got hot. The Maroons were 7-of-11 from the field in the third quarter, and the Black Knights were only able to convert on three shots.
Part of the problem was Auburn's defense, which forced 16 turnovers by the time the lead was in double-digits.
“I think there was four consecutive times that we were able to turn a quick shot or a turnover into a lay-up,” Giannone said.
The Maroons added to its lead in the fourth quarter, inching it up to 17 (59-42) before the Black Knights were able to find their shot. RFA closed the game with three baskets to make the score a little more manageable.
Whitaker led all scorers with 18 points, while Bryant added nine points and six rebounds. Auburn (2-0) travels to Baldwinsville next Tuesday for its first away game.
“It will be a good test for us, especially on the road,” Giannone said.
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