Balanced Knights too fast for Memphis Douglass

Six players scored in double figures as Auburn opened its season with a 96-84 statement victory over highly regarded Frederick Douglass of Memphis, Tennessee, in the nightcap of the opening night doubleheader.

Auburn, which is coming off a 26-6 season, outscored the Red Devils 22-14 in the second quarter of the fast -paced game to take a 48-37 halftime lead and was never severely threatened the rest of the way.

The athletic, helter skelter Red Devils, who went 22-5 last year, did manage to get within nine points in the final minutes but no closer.

Amir Danforth and Terry Horton led Auburn with 18 points each. Tyler Johnson led Douglas with 22 points. The 96 points by the Knights ties the second most ever scored in a 205 Tip-Off Classic game. Indianapolis Pike scored 98 points against East back in 2014.

Herman Powell had 21 for the Red Devils.

The bigger Red Devils dominated the offensive boards and actually scored more field goals than Auburn. The Knights, though, played six guards and two forwards and killed Douglass at the free-throw line. Auburn made 32-of-40 from the charity stripe.

BOXSCORE 

Rockford Auburn 96, Memphis Douglass 84

Douglass ..... 23 14 24 23 - 84
Auburn ....... 26 22 25 23 - 96

DOUGLASS - D. Johnson 5 0-0 10, Butler 3 0-0 7, T. Johnson 7 7-11 22, Chandler 2 0-0 6, Thompson 1 0-0 2, Powell 8 3-8 21, Britman 3 4-7 10, Holly 1 0-0 2, Bond 1 2-2 4. Totals 31 16-28 84.
AUBURN - Agee 4 3-4 13, Chaney 3 8-8 14, Parker 4 2-2 12, Black 2 1-2 5, Horton 2 13-16 18, Horton-Lee 4 4-4 13, Miller 1 1-4 3, Danforth 7 0-0 18. Totals 27 32-40 96.
3-pointers: Douglass 6 (Powell 2, Chandler 2, Butler, T. Johnson), Auburn 10 (Danforth 4, Agee 2, Parker 2, Horton, Horton-Lee.