MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Auburn University at Montgomery Warhawks men's basketball team (1-0) opened its season Friday night with a convincing 95-68 win over the Spring Hill College Badgers (0-1) in the SIAC/GSC Crossover Challenge at the AUM Athletics Complex. The 27-point win was the largest margin of victory against a Division II opponent since February 8, 2019, when the Warhawks defeated Mississippi College 93-59. The victory came in Joe Brooks's debut as the interim head coach of the Warhawks. 

COACH BROOKS' COMMENTS
"We are super proud of our guys tonight. They stayed poised, played for each other, and set the tone for the kind of team they want to be this season. It's just one win, but it reflects the work they've been putting in every day. They wanted it and went after it.  We'll enjoy this, learn from it, and get right back to work"

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
AUM (1-0) took control early, holding Spring Hill without a field goal for the first 4:23 of the game before a 3-pointer by Stephon MacDonald cut the Warhawks' lead to 12-7. The Badgers made just one of their first 11 shots from the field, while Chappelle Whitney opened up hot for the Warhawks, piling up nine points, three rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot in the first four minutes of the contest.

The Warhawks led by as many as 10 points in the first half – the last time coming at 19-9 – before the Badgers made an effort to get back into the game. Spring Hill (0-1) got to within four points at 33-29 with 5:10 to go before halftime, but AUM reasserted itself in the closing minutes of the period, getting a 3-pointer from Max Ogbalet-Ndiaye to send the Warhawks into halftime with a 43-34 lead.

AUM went 17-for-40 (42.5 percent) from the field overall, including 6-for-16 (37.5 percent) from 3-point range, in the opening half. The Warhawks were outrebounded 25-17, but they forced Spring Hill to commit 13 turnovers that led to 19 points for AUM. Meanwhile, Spring Hill went 9-for-27 (33.3 percent) from the field overall and 4-for-12 (33.3 percent) from long range in the first half, but stayed close by making all 12 of its free throw attempts.

Whitney had 17 points, six rebounds, and five steals to lead the Warhawks' offensive attack. Ogbalet-Ndiaye (six points, two steals) and Marius Canery (six points, three rebounds, three assists) were next in line for AUM in the first half.

Brian Harris led Spring Hill with 12 points (on 4-of-4 shooting) and two rebounds and Rocco Lamuno added 10 points and three rebounds for the Badgers.

Second Half
AUM opened the second half with a 14-4 run over the first 5:52 of the half to take a 57-38 lead with 14:08 to go, ending any doubt as to the outcome. The Warhawks eventually led by as many as 34 points, coming at 95-61 after a 3-pointer by Devin Barksdale with 1:59 left.

NOTABLES
- The Warhawks finished the game 37-for-79 (46.8 percent) from the field overall, including 12-for-35 (34.3 percent) from 3-point range. AUM forced Spring Hill to commit 21 turnovers, which led to 33 Warhawk points, while committing just nine turnovers of its own.
- AUM's defense limited Spring Hill to 36.8 percent shooting overall (21-for-57) and 26.1 percent (6-for-23) from 3-point range in the game. The Badgers did make 20 of their 22 free throws (90.9 percent) and outrebounded AUM, 43-39, for the contest.
- Whitney finished with 21 points, seven rebounds, and five steals to lead the Warhawks, who had four players finish in double figures. Canery added 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists, Colby Williams pitched in 14 points and five rebounds, and Ti'Avian Scruggs finished with 12 points and four rebounds for the Warhawks, who had seven players score eight points or more and 10 players total score in the game.
- Harris led Spring Hill with 17 points and four rebounds and Lamuno tossed in 13 points and four rebounds for the Badgers in the loss.

UP NEXT
AUM will be back in action Saturday in the second day of the SIAC/GSC Crossover Challenge, as the Warhawks will take on Tuskegee (2-0) at 6 p.m. at the AUM Athletics Complex. If you can't make it out to the AUM Athletics Complex to cheer on the Warhawks in person, you can still watch the game, as it will be streamed online by FloCollege. 



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