Auburn 95, Merrimack 57: Reset Achieved, Rotation Deepens, and a New Big Man Arrives
The #20 Auburn Tigers (2-0) hit the reset button in emphatic fashion Thursday night, demolishing Merrimack 95-57 at Neville Arena. After a chaotic overtime scare in the opener, this was the response Steven Pearl needed — and demanded. From suffocating defense to ruthless rebounding, Auburn looked like the Top 20 team it’s supposed to be.
The Reset Was Real
Auburn covered the 25.5-point spread with ease, proving they can respond to adversity. The defense, embarrassed in the opener, roared back to life. The Tigers held Merrimack to just 28.6% from the field and a dismal 25% from deep, including a 1-for-17 stretch in the first half that broke the game wide open. Auburn led 39-22 at the break and never looked back.
Rebounding Was a Statement
The numbers paint the picture. Auburn out-rebounded Merrimack 55-24. That’s a +31 margin. They pulled down 21 offensive boards, leading to 26 second-chance points and a 42-24 advantage in the paint. This was domination, pure and simple — and it started with effort, focus, and better positioning across the board.
Keyshawn Hall Is Him
Hall followed his 28-point opener with another dominant showing: 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 11-of-13 from the line in just under 25 minutes. He’s averaging 26.5 points through two games and looks every bit the offensive centerpiece Auburn hoped he’d be.
Emeka Opurum Is the Big Man on Campus
With KeShawn Murphy sidelined for rest, true freshman Emeka Opurum made the most of his debut. The 7-footer finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting night. His back-to-back alley-oop slams in the second half lit up the arena and showed he’s more than just size — he’s a legit interior weapon.
SWA Continues to Flourish
Sebastian Williams-Adams continued to impress with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Junior Abdul Bashir added 10 points and an assist off the bench. Both were instrumental in maintaining energy and pace when most of the starters sat — a major improvement over the opener’s rotation tightrope.
Areas to Watch
Tahaad Pettiford again struggled from the field (2-of-9), though his playmaking and rebounding were more under control. Auburn also committed 25 fouls — an area that still needs cleaning up as competition stiffens. But we all know, Haad shows up for the biggest matchups.
Who’s Next: Wofford Terriers (Tuesday, Nov. 11)
Auburn wraps up its three-game home stand Tuesday night against Wofford — a disciplined SoCon squad that plays the exact slow, methodical style that gave the Tigers issues in their opener. This isn’t a cupcake: Wofford won the SoCon Tournament last year and made the NCAA Tournament before falling to Tennessee.
For Auburn, this is about sharpening every detail before heading to Birmingham to face No. 2 Houston on Sunday, November 16. It’s the final test of discipline, defensive focus, and rotation clarity. Steven Pearl needs a clean performance — efficient offense, minimal fouling, and consistent minutes from his bench — to walk into the Houston matchup confident and composed. All eyes will be on Tahaad Pettiford’s rhythm, KeShawn Murphy’s return, and whether Auburn’s young bench continues to earn trust. The opponent may not be flashy, but the stakes are high.