MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- The Auburn University at Montgomery men's basketball team used a balanced scoring effort and was able to stave off a late comeback attempt by Spring Hill College en route to an 87-84 win in the team's home opener on Tuesday night to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday.

James Graham pitched in 19 points off the bench for AUM, while Sam Youngblood posted 17 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Jalen Gaston (12 points) and Joseph Lanzi (12 points) also scored in double-figures. 

THE TIP-OFF

Score: AUM 87, SHC 84
Records: AUM 1-3 (0-1 GSC) | SHC 2-2 (0-0 SIAC)
Series: AUM leads the all-time series 28-22
Venue | City: Montgomery, Ala. | AUM Athletics Complex
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HIGHLIGHTS

• A back-and-forth opening five minutes saw AUM take a 12-11 lead on a Sam Youngblood three-pointer.
• The Badgers responded with an 11-2 run to take a 22-14 lead with 10:26 remaining in the first half thanks to two three-pointers from Tana Kopa.
• Spring Hill continued to push in front in the late stages of the first half, but a 10-2 surge by the Warhawks put AUM up 41-36 at the half.
• Leading 43-40, the Warhawks got a three-pointer from Gaston, a layup by Deven Tucker, and a three-point play by Gaston on a driving layup to open up their largest lead of the night at nine points, 51-42.
• SHC did not fade, however, as Beril Kabamba drained a three-pointer and hit two free throws to cap a 17-8 run that saw the Badgers take a 70-63 lead with 9:30 to play.
• A pair of Lanzi layups and a Youngblood three-point basket tied the game at 70, and the two teams spent the next few possessions trading buckets.
• Tied at 74-74 with 5:49 left, Tucker and Gaston each registered layups that staked the Warhawks to a lead that they were able to defend in the game's closing minute.
• The Badgers fought back and had a chance to tie the game after Kopa was fouled on a three-pointer with 2 seconds to play, but he only converted two of the three attempts, and Travis Anderson iced the game away with two free throws of his own with less than one second on the clock.

NOTABLES

• The Warhawks second unit clobbered the second unit of the Badgers 32-6 in bench scoring.
• Gaston, who struggled to shoot the ball early, scored all 12 of his points in the second half for the Warhawks. 
• AUM was out-rebounded 38-37 for the first time this season.
• Graham scored 19 points, pulled down three rebounds, and blocked two shots in 17 minutes off the bench for AUM.
• The Warhawks outpaced the Badgers by a dozen, 44-32, in points in the paint.
• Spring Hill committed 23 turnovers, while the Warhawks coughed it up 16 times.
• Kopa dropped a game-high 36 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field. He also went 5-of-8 from three-point land.

WORDS FROM THE WARHAWKS

"We are excited to get the win in our home opener," said head coach Michael Cheaney. "You have to give a lot of credit to Spring Hill and [head coach] Craig Kennedy. He is a legend, he has done it all, and his teams are always well-coached and fight hard. We told our guys that it was going to be a battle. It was a tough challenge tonight, and we definitely got a chance to see where we are at. We played hard and found a way to hold onto the late lead, and we also saw areas where we have to get better and improve. We just need to stay consistent with our work and keep getting better. Go Warhawks!"

UP NEXT

The Warhawks play their first Gulf South Conference home game on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 4 p.m. at the AUM Athletics Complex against the University of West Alabama, which is receiving votes in the latest NABC Top 25 men's basketball poll.

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