Columbia, Mohd. -- K.D. Johnson scored 17 points, including five straight, within the final 90 seconds, and survived a scare from No. 1 Auburn Missouri, winning the first game of the program on Tuesday night as the nation's top-ranked 55-54. Of.
Johnson converted a three-point game with 1:29 remaining to put Auburn ahead 53-51 and added a layup with 45 seconds to go for a four-point advantage, and the Tigers (19-1, 8-0) Southeastern Conference) was held. From there.
"Get the ball to KD Johnson and get out of the way," said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl. "it's not rocket science."
Walker Kessler had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Auburn, who disappointed Pearl by shooting 30% off the ground.
"We didn't play like the best team in the country tonight," he said. "Being number 1 doesn't make you number 1."
Jevon Piquet led Missouri (8-11, 2-5) with 17 points, and Jeroen Coleman added 10 in challenging the deeper, more efficient Auburn Tigers.
Missouri made a strong start to take a 10-point lead in the first six minutes, while Auburn lost 10 of the first 11 shots. Auburn star freshman Jabari Smith - a potential top pick in this year's NBA draft - scored three points in the first half as the teams were tied at 31.
Smith finished with five points on 15 off 2, although he contributed 10 rebounds.
Auburn won the rebounding fight, 49–37, 26 of which came on the offensive side of the ball. Although Pearl saw a lot to work with in the game, he was quite pleased with what he saw on the glass.
"You talk about people playing with effort and energy, that's what it's all about," he said.
Auburn's Wendell Greene Jr. injured his right knee in a collision with Missouri's Yaya Keita, with 13:18 left in the game. Greene, who was called to charge the play, went to the locker room and did not return. Green entered the game as Auburn's third leading scorer with 13.0 points per game. Auburn watches as it prepares to host Oklahoma in the Big 12/SEC Challenge on Saturday.
"We were very worried when Wendell rolled over there," Pearl said. "You watch your entire season without your point guard flashing before your eyes."