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AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Johni Broome had 18 points and 12 rebounds and Chaney Johnson also scored 18 points to lead No. 5 Auburn to a 79-56 victory over Kent State on Wednesday night.
The Tigers (3-0) raced to a fast start and then fought off a second-half rally on the heels of a 74-69 win at then-No. 4 Houston that vaulted them six spots in the AP poll.
Chad Baker-Mazara and Denver Jones had 12 points apiece for Auburn. Broome made 8 of 12 shots and Johnson 8 of 11.
VonCameron Davis led Kent State (2-1) with 19 points despite playing just 18 minutes after getting into early foul trouble. Jalen Sullinger added 16 points and made 3 of 5 3-pointers.
Auburn's Jahki Howard and Ja‘Heim Hudson missed their second game in a row after reportedly getting into an altercation on the flight to Houston, forcing the plane to be grounded shortly after takeoff.
Kent State: Fell to 5-8 against current Southeastern Conference members. Davis had three fouls in three first-half minutes but poured in 17 points after that.
Auburn: Scored the game's first 10 points and raced ahead 30-8 but couldn't sustain the dominant start. Had 23 assists on 28 baskets with four players each getting four.
The Golden Flashes clawed back from a 22-point first-half deficit, cutting it to 41-37 on Delrecco Gillespie’s layup with 15:37 left.
Then Broome scored six points and Tahaad Pettiford made a 3-pointer and just beat the shot clock with another jumper to fuel an 11-0 run that effectively ended the threat.
Auburn shot 49.1% from the floor (28 of 57). Kent State was just 20-of-61 shooting (32.8%).
Auburn hosts North Alabama Monday night when Kent State also hosts Niagara.
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