Pettiford scores 18 to lead Auburn to 92-59 win against SE Louisiana in a season opener

Pettiford scores 18 to lead Auburn to 92-59 win against SE Louisiana in a season opener

Tahaad Pettiford scores 13 of his 18 points in the first half, leading Auburn to a 92-59 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night

AUBURN, Ala. -- Tahaad Pettiford scored 13 of his 18 points in the first half to lead Auburn to a 92-59 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night in the season opener for both teams.

Pettiford, who surpassed 1,000 points last season with the Tigers, shot 6 of 19 from the floor. Kevin Overton added 12 points on four 3s for Auburn. Narcisse Ngoy and George Kimble III each chipped in 10 points. Ngoy grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Auburn scored 11 straight points to end the first half for a 42-25 lead. A 12-0 run in the second half stretched the advantage to 69-40 with 8:48 remaining.

The Tigers shot 51% (32 of 63) overall and outrebounded the Lions 50-37.

Quincy Allen hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 points for SE Louisiana. Yanis Ndjonga added 13 points.

Second-year coach Steven Pearl led Auburn to a 22-16 record and an NIT Championship last season. It was the Tigers' fifth-straight 20-win season, and they have a nation-leading 68-game no...