Auburn, AL (Sports Network) - Xavier Munford made a buzzer beater to force the
second extra session and scored a career-high 33 points to push the Rhode
Island Rams past the Auburn Tigers for a 78-72 victory in a double-overtime
thriller at Auburn Arena.
Munford made 8-of-15 attempts from beyond the arc as he willed Rhode Island
(1-5) to its first win of the season. Nikola Malesevic was also very
productive with 19 points and six rebounds. Andre Malone added 13 points and
eight rebounds in the win.
Jordan Price paced Auburn (2-4) with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the
floor. Noel Johnson chipped in 13 points and Rob Chubb grabbed nine rebounds.
Frankie Sullivan was held to seven points and finished just 1-of-9 from three-
point range.
The Tigers took a 37-32 advantage into the intermission after they shot 63.6
percent from the field. Auburn led 22-11 at the 11:49 mark of the first half,
but the Rams knocked down 5-of-10 from three-point range in the opening 20
minutes to narrow the deficit.
Auburn cooled off after the intermission and made only 9-of-25 field goal
attempts. Rhode Island shot just 31 percent from the field in the second half.
Chubb made a jumper with 2:27 left on the clock to tie the score at 58.
Munford had a chance to put the Rams up with just over a minute left in the
half, but he missed and neither side managed another shot attempt, which sent
the game into overtime.
The Tigers were in control in the first overtime period as they held a 66-63
lead with just 11 seconds remaining on the clock. But Munford came up in the
clutch as he drilled a three-pointer at the buzzer to force another overtime.
Malesevic scored seven points and Munford netted five in the second overtime
to give the Rams the road victory.
Rhode Island knocked down 13-of-26 attempts from beyond the arc in the
contest. The Tigers were unable to overcome their 19 turnovers, which the Rams
converted into 30 points.
GAME NOTES:
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