With the start of Feast Week, in-season tournaments are already in full swing, and Day 1 of the prestigious Maui Invitational delivered high-intensity matchups. The clash between Iowa State and Auburn men’s basketball teams, one among them. Auburn pulled off a stunning 83-81 upset over No. 5 Iowa State in the tournament’s first round, but the victory didn’t come easy.

The game began with Iowa State leading by 16 points at halftime, showcasing their defensive prowess by forcing turnovers and putting the Tigers under pressure. Auburn, however, made a remarkable comeback in the second half, fueled by an 18-point performance from Chad Baker-Mazara and Johni Broome’s last-second jumper.

As NCAA Buzzer Beater posted: “JOHNI BROOME WITH 1.3 LEFT!! #4 AUBURN COMES BACK FROM 18 DOWN TO WIN 83-81 OVER #5 IOWA STATE IN MAUI!!” The thrilling finish underscored the Tigers’ resilience and determination.

Iowa State entered the game as a turnover machine, forcing opponents into one every four possessions. In the first half alone, they forced seven turnovers, converting them into 11 points. Meanwhile, the Cyclones outscored Auburn 14-3 in fast-break points and had five players contributing seven or more points by halftime.

Auburn, shooting just 29% from beyond the arc in the first half, relied on Tahaad Pettiford and Johni Broome, who combined for 20 points, to stay within reach. The second half saw a dramatic shift. Auburn outscored Iowa State 24-11 to cut the deficit to a single possession. With a second left and the score tied, Broome grabbed an offensive rebound and made a jumper that would take the Tigers to an 83-81 victory and it was no usual.

This victory is monumental for Auburn

The Tigers now boast one of the best résumés in college basketball, with wins over two top-five teams—Houston and Iowa State—on the road. This marks the first time in Auburn’s history they’ve secured two such victories in the same season. Their earlier triumph came against Houston in a 74-69 battle.

Freshman Tahaad Pettiford, who was scoreless in his college debut, led the Tigers with 21 points, including five three-pointers. In a game that featured 13 lead changes and six ties, Auburn’s defensive tenacity shone. They forced 10 turnovers, turned them into 10 points, blocked seven shots, and grabbed six steals.

Johni Broome, a consistent force for Auburn, delivered another dominant performance with 20 points on 10-for-15 shooting. He received solid support from Chaney Johnson, who contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds while shooting efficiently.

The Tiger now maintain a 5-0 undefeated record. “The next four games are against Elite 8-caliber teams,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl had said. “It’ll be a true test and a true measure of where we’re at.” Well, they have ticked one of the boxes now and the position looks quite good. They next face North Carolina on the 26th while Duke awaits on December 4th.