Shelton Shines, but Merrimack falls at No. 20 Auburn
(20) Auburn 95, Merrimack 57
No. 20 Auburn built a commanding 17-point lead by halftime and never looked back, rolling to a 95-57 win over the Warriors inside a loud and raucous Neville Arena on Thursday night.
The Warriors were outscored 21-9 off turnovers and endured a brutal stretch of more than eight minutes without a field goal. It was a clinic from the Tigers, who used their size and athleticism to dominate both ends of the floor.
Still, it wasn’t all bad news for the Warriors.
Ernest Shelton had a breakout performance, leading the way with 23 points while shooting an efficient 50 percent (6 for 12) from the field. His numbers stood out on a night when the Warriors struggled mightily to find any offensive rhythm. Outside of Shelton, the team shot just 22.7 percent (10 for 44) from the floor. Shelton went 5 for 10 from beyond the arc, while the rest of the roster combined to go 3 for 22 (13.6 percent).
Shelton also paced the Warriors with three steals.
On the other side, the Tigers were sharp, shooting 50 percent (31 for 62) from the field, though the Warriors did hold them to 25 percent from three-point range.
Keyshawn Hall led Auburn with 25 points.
The Warriors (0-2) will look to pick up their first win of the season on Tuesday night when they travel to Texas to face Tarleton State.
