Auburn Tigers opened their summer tour in winning fashion with a convincing 92-71 victory over Serbian club Mega on Mykonos.
The Tigers used a strong offensive performance to control the game after halftime. They also showed major improvements from three-point range.
Auburn entered the game after starting preparations earlier than most teams in Europe. The Tigers have already been working toward the upcoming college basketball season.
Mega, one of Serbia’s most respected development programs, provided a strong test. The Serbian side stayed competitive for much of the opening half.
Auburn eventually created separation late in the second quarter. The Tigers then took complete control after the halftime break.
Claim Now Auburn played very well throughout the whole game against Mega
The third quarter proved especially important for Auburn, as the Tigers found their rhythm from beyond the arc and consistently punished Mega’s defense. Their three-point shooting became one of the biggest differences between the teams.
That development will be particularly encouraging for Auburn heading into the new season.
Three-point shooting was one of the areas that caused problems for the Tigers last season. Auburn will therefore be pleased with its efficiency from deep in Mykonos.
The Tigers continued to build their advantage throughout the second half. They also finished the game strongly on the defensive end. Mega managed to tighten its defense during the final quarter. However, Auburn maintained enough control to secure a comfortable 21-point victory.
Kevin Overton led Auburn with 21 points in an impressive offensive display.
Thomas Dowd added 13 points and 10 rebounds to complete a double-double. Four additional Auburn players finished with 12 points apiece.
Tahaad Pettiford, Caleb Williams, Blake Muschalek and Adam Olsen all reached double figures.
Mega had several strong individual performances despite the final margin. Pavle Backo led the Serbian team with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists. He shot 6-of-9 from two-point range and made all three attempts from deep.
Mihailo Boskovic added 17 points and five rebounds. Ognjen Nikolic also reached double figures with 10 points.
Auburn and Mega will meet again on Mykonos tomorrow at the same time.
