Get ready for a thrilling Monday night matchup as the No. 2 Auburn Tigers face off against the Monmouth Hawks at Neville Arena in their final non-conference game of the season. After a dominant win over No. 16 Purdue, fueled by a stellar performance from Johni Broome, Auburn is looking to close out their non-conference schedule with a bang. On the other hand, Monmouth comes off a strong 88-74 victory over Fairfield, but they have struggled this season with a 2-10 record.
Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting game:
How to Watch: Catch the game live on SEC Network+ with Brit Bowen and Joe Ciamp on the call. The action begins at 5:30 p.m. CT.
How to Listen: Tune in to the Auburn Sports Network on 94.3 FM or affiliate stations across the Southeast. You can also stream the game on the Auburn Tigers app or AuburnTigers.com. Andy Burcham, Randall Dickey, and Brad Law will bring you the radio broadcast.
Series History: This will be the first-ever meeting between Auburn and Monmouth, with Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl facing Monmouth’s King Rice for the first time.
Key Players to Watch: Auburn’s powerhouse Johni Broome continues to shine, while the dynamic guard trio of Denver Jones, Miles Kelly, and Tahaad Pettiford keeps impressing. On Monmouth’s side, watch out for sophomore sensation Abdi Bashir Jr., who is averaging 21.6 points per game and has posted two 30-point performances this season.
Betting Odds: Auburn is heavily favored with a -36.5 spread. The over/under is set at 153.5. As always, game odds are subject to change.
Auburn’s Dominance:
Auburn is looking to extend its home dominance, having won 59 consecutive games against non-conference opponents.
The Tigers boast a nation-leading six Quad 1 wins, with a +12.0 scoring margin in these high-stakes games.
Auburn is ranked No. 1 in assist-to-turnover ratio, third in blocks, and fourth in field-goal percentage and scoring margin. The Tigers’ offensive power is undeniable, with multiple blowout victories already this season.
The Tigers are undefeated at home so far, outscoring opponents by an average of 38.4 points per game.
Monmouth’s Key Threat: Monmouth’s Abdi Bashir Jr. is a scoring machine, ranking among the top 10 in the nation in points per game. With multiple 20+ point performances, including a program-record 10 three-pointers at Rutgers, he is a player to watch closely.
Historic Context:
This is Coach Bruce Pearl’s first matchup against Monmouth’s King Rice, who has a strong coaching resume and led the Hawks to multiple MAAC titles.
Auburn’s Miles Kelly faces off against former Georgia Tech teammate Jordan Meka, now with Monmouth.
Auburn’s Record-Breaking Start: Auburn is off to an impressive 11-1 start, and a win against Monmouth would mark a 12-1 record, tying a program record for best start before SEC play.
Don’t miss this incredible showdown—Auburn is on a quest to continue its dominant season and add another huge win to its already impressive résumé!
