Tigers erupt from deep in second half at Neville Arena as Kevin Overton and Elyjah Freeman fuel postseason push; Nevada awaits in high-stakes quarterfinal matchup
AUBURN, Ala. | Auburn’s postseason momentum continued Sunday night as the Tigers surged past Seattle University 91–85 at Neville Arena, riding a second-half shooting barrage to secure a berth in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) quarterfinals.
Guard Kevin Overton delivered a standout performance, leading Auburn with 23 points—his fifth 20-point outing in March—while Elyjah Freeman added 19 points and seven rebounds in a full 40-minute effort. The duo combined for eight 3-pointers, including a decisive stretch after halftime that helped Auburn maintain control down the stretch.
“I want to thank our fans that came out tonight. Our guys felt their presence,” Auburn head coach Steven Pearl said. “To score 91 points against that team is good. As the game went on, guys made shots.”
After a sluggish start from beyond the arc—just 2-of-13 in the first half—Auburn found its rhythm early in the second. Overton and Freeman spearheaded a sharp turnaround, combining to shoot 7-of-9 from 3-point range after intermission. The offensive efficiency proved critical against a Seattle U defense ranked among the nation’s top 25 in scoring defense.
