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Auburn Basketball: Tigers vs Louisiana-Lafayette Game Info, Preview, TV Schedule, Start Time, Etc.

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Auburn Tigers (1-1) vs Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (1-1)

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  • Date: Friday, November 21, 2014
  • Start Time: 8PM Central
  • Location: Auburn, Alabama
  • Arena: Auburn Arena
  • TV Info: Fox Sports Net
  • Live Stream: ESPN3.com
  • Odds (via VegasInsider.com): Auburn (-4)

The Auburn basketball team traveled to Boulder, Colorado Monday for a late night tipoff against a solid Colorado Buffaloes squad. Bruce Pearl’s bunch fought hard to stay close through the first 25 minutes of the game, but a disastrous second half shooting stretch led to a huge run for the Buffs and a 90-59 blowout loss for the Tigers.

“I thought there were times in the game that our effort was aimless,” Pearl said after the game. “We gave effort, but how constructive was it? …Spacing, timing, screening, defending on and off the ball, following the scouting report and the plan. There was nothing wrong with the effort, but if it’s aimless, then it’s not going to be effective.”

There were some positives, of course. Senior guard K.T. Harrell scored 20 points for the second straight game and reigning SEC Player of the Week Cinmeon Bowers had his second double-double. Unfortunately, Antoine Mason missed the game with an injured ankle and he is expected to miss tonight’s game as well.

Nov 17, 2014; Boulder, CO, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Cinmeon Bowers (5) attempts over Colorado Buffaloes forward

Josh Scott

(40) in the second half at Coors Events Center. The Buffaloes defeated the Tigers 90-59 Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

In Mason’s absence, K.C. Ross-Miller had 11 points, giving him back-to-back double-digit scoring games to open the season. Tajh Shamsid-Deen joined Ross-Miller in the starting backcourt after leaving the season opener against Milwaukee with an injured shoulder. Shamed-Deen played 22 minutes against the Buffs and had two points, two assists and two steals.

Expect the Tigers to play with more focus tonight as they face another tough opponent.

Louisiana-Lafayette is the third consecutive 2014 NCAA Tournament team the Tigers have played to open the season. The Ragin’ Cajuns come in 1-1 after a 64-53 loss to Tulsa, but were 23-12 last season and won the Sun Belt Conference tournament. They are one of the favorites to win the league title again this year despite losing Elfrid Payton to the NBA. Payton was the tenth overall pick in the NBA Draft after earning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors last season.

ULL has another All-Conference player returning, however, in Shawn Long. Long led the Sun Belt in blocks and rebounds last season and will be a challenge for Cinmeon Bowers in the post. He teams with Oklahoma State transfer Brian Williams to make one of the league’s most talented duos. Also, Xavian Rimmer is the Sun Belt’s top returning three-point shooter from last season, so the Ragin’ Cajuns have several options.

Auburn will have their hands full with another talented and experienced team. However, the game is certainly winnable. The Tigers have the home crowd behind them once again in The Jungle, and that could be the difference. Auburn should rebound from their disappointing loss to Colorado by winning�a close game tonight.

Projected Lineups:

Auburn

#5 Cinmeon Bowers, F, Jr., 6-foot-7, 278 pounds, 14.5 PPG, 15.0 RPG, 31.0 MPG
#25 Jordon Granger, F, Jr., 6-foot-8, 210 pounds, 4.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 24.0 MPG
#1 K.T. Harrell, G, Sr., 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, 20.0 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 33.5 MPG
#13 Tahj Shamsid-Deen, G, So., 5-foot-9, 170 pounds, 2.0 PPG, 0.0 RPG, 18.5 MPG
#12 K.C. Ross-Miller, G, Sr., 6-foot, 178 pounds, 12.0 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 24.5 MPG

Colorado

#0 Devonta Walker, F, Jr., 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, 11.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.0 APG
#3 Xavian Rimmer, G, Sr., 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, 3.5 PPG, 1.0 RPG, 0.5 APG
#21 Shawn Long, F, Jr., 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, 11.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 BPG
#23 Tiremone Williams, G, Jr., 6-foot-0, 180 pounds, 3.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.5 APG
#31 Brian Williams, F, Sr., 6-foot-5, 210 pounds, 10.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.5 APG

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