Johnson scores 15, No. 21 Auburn rallies to beat USF 58-52
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - K.D. Johnson scored 15 points, Zep Jasper added 13 and No. 21 Auburn rallied to beat South Florida 58-52 on Friday night.
Jabari Smith hit a 3-pointer 10 minutes into the second half during a 15-0 stretch that gave Auburn (3-0) its first lead at 42-40. It was the third made 3-pointer by Auburn in 21 tries to that point.
Jaylin Williams and Devan Cambridge had consecutive slams to start the run with USF leading 40-31. Johnson had two layups, including one after a nifty steal, that helped the Tigers go up 46-40.
Caleb Murphy scored 19 points and Javon Greene added 12 for South Florida (2-2), which was coming off a 56-54 comeback win over North Carolina A&T on Monday.
Smith, a standout freshman coming off his first career double-double in a win over Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 12, had nine points.
Greene hit a 3 to pull USF within 55-52 with 2:30 remaining, but Sam Hines Jr. missed two free throws in the final minute.
Auburn forward Jabari Smith (10) drives around South Florida forward Sam Hines Jr. (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Jasper made it 57-52 by making a pair of free throws with 32 seconds left.
Murphy had 11 points as USF took a 33-26 halftime lead.
The Bulls scored the first nine points and led 25-10 before Auburn put together a 10-0 run.
Auburn had five of its nine first-half turnovers in the opening five minutes and was scoreless until Johnson connected on a 3 with 14:43 left.
BIG PICTURE
Auburn: The Tigers trailed at halftime for a second straight game. Auburn trailed Louisiana-Monroe by two but ended up winning 93-65.
USF: The Bulls are building consistency with a roster that had lots of offseason turnover. USF added 10 new players, with eight transfers and two freshmen. The seven Division-I transfers and eight total transfers are tied for the most this season among D-I teams.
WE'LL BE BACK
The game was played off the USF campus in downtown Tampa at Amalie Arena. Auburn will return there in March for the Southeastern Conference tournament.
UP NEXT
Auburn: Opens play at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas Wednesday against No. 23 UConn.
USF: Hosts Hampton on Wednesday night.
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Auburn guard K.D. Johnson (0) is fouled by South Florida forward Jalyn McCreary (4) as he goes up for a shot during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Also defending for South Florida is DJ Patrick (3) (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
South Florida forward Sam Hines Jr. (20) ties up Auburn forward Jabari Smith (10) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
South Florida guard Javon Greene (1) and Auburn guard Devan Cambridge (35) battle for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Auburn forward Chris Moore (5) shoots over South Florida forward Bayron Matos (14) and forward Sam Hines Jr. (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
