Everything You Need To Know About Auburn vs Monmouth

Auburn returns to action following its holiday break on Monday night for its final non-conference matchup against Monmouth

Here's what you need to know for Auburn's matchup with Monmouth / Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The No. 2 Auburn Tigers take on the Monmouth Hawks at Neville Arena on Monday night in their final non-conference game of the regular season.

Auburn was led to a convincing victory over No. 16 Purdue by a dominant performance from star big man Johni Broome in his return to action following a shoulder injury in Auburn’s win over Georgia State.

Monmouth comes into this contest after beating Fairfield 88-74 in its last matchup, improving to 2-10 on the season.

On that note, here’s everything you need to know for the game. 

How to Watch the Auburn Tigers take on the Monmouth Hawks

The television broadcast for the game can be found on SEC Network+, Brit Bowen and Joe Ciamp will have the call. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. CT. 

How to Listen to the Auburn Tigers Take on the Monmouth Hawks

The Auburn Sports Network broadcast can be heard locally on 94.3 FM, on affiliate stations throughout the Southeast, or streamed anywhere on the Auburn Tigers app or on AuburnTigers.com.

Andy Burcham, Randall Dickey and Brad Law will have the radio call.

Series History Between the Auburn Tigers and the Monmouth Hawks

This is the first ever meeting between Auburn and Monmouth. Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl has never coached against Monmouth head coach King Rice.

Key Players to Watch

Star Auburn big man Johni Broome continues to dominate this season. Auburn’s star guard trio of Denver Jones, Miles Kelly and Tahaad Pettiford has been impressive to watch as well.

Monmouth's 6-foot-7 sophomore guard Abdi Bashir Jr. leads the team in scoring, averaging 21.6 points per game. Additionally, Kaufman-Renn averages 2.2 rebounds per game and is shooting 42% from the field. 

Betting Odds

Auburn is favored to pick up the win over Monmouth according to ESPN Bet. Here is the spread, money lines and over/under as of Friday afternoon.

Spread: Auburn (-36.5)

Moneylines: Off

O/U: 153.5

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER

» After a nine-day winter break from competition, No. 2 Auburn (11-1) gets ready to close out non-conference play with a first-ever meeting versus Monmouth (2-10) on Monday evening at Neville Arena.

» It’s another Holiday Bleacher Game, where fans with a ticket can move down and have access to seating in The Jungle on a first-come, first-served basis.

» The Tigers are looking to go undefeated at home against non-conference opponents for the ninth-straight season. They have won the last 59-consecutive games at home versus non-conference foes.

» Auburn boasts a nation-leading six Quad 1 wins with one loss, all of which have been played away from home. The Tigers’ six wins against Quad 1 opponents are two more than any other team – UConn and Oregon have four. In these games, Auburn has a +12.0 scoring margin.

» The Tigers currently rank No. 1 in the country in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.15), third in blocks per game (6.5) as well as fourth in field-goal percentage (51.4%) and scoring margin (+23.0).

» In its first 12 games, Auburn has won a game by 51 points, three by at least 41 points and five by at least 33 points. The Tigers’ three 40+-point victories are third most in a season in program history. The 1998-99 and 2018-19 Tigers both had four 40-point wins.

» Since the 2016-17 season, the Tigers boast the best win percentage (.859) against non-conference opponents among SEC schools with a 92-15 overall record.

EYEING THE HAWKS

» Monmouth is led by sophomore guard Abdi Bashir Jr., who ranks ninth nationally averaging 21.6 points per game. He has two 30-point games including 38 at Rutgers and 30 at Stephen F. Austin. Bashir Jr. also has six additional games of at least 20 points including 28 in a win at Seton Hall, 27 in a win over Fairfield, 26 at Princeton, 25 at Northern Illinois, 22 at Lehigh and 20 at Michigan State. He is tied for second nationally averaging 4.0 three-pointers per game including a program-record 10 three-pointers at Rutgers.

» Monmouth beat Seton Hall, 63-51, on Nov. 30, the Hawks’ 10th high-major victory under head coach King Rice since 2015.

» The Hawks have played only one home game on their entire non-conference slate – an 88-74 win over Fairfield.

» Monmouth (previous members of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) has won three regular-season MAAC titles under Coach Rice, who has been honored as MAAC Coach of the Year three times and is the winningest NCAA Division I head coach in the program’s history with 208 wins.

SIDEBARS

» This is Coach Pearl’s first-ever matchup on opposite sidelines against Monmouth head coach King Rice, who played under head coach Dean Smith at North Carolina in the late 80s and early 90s.

» Auburn senior guard Miles Kelly (9.8 ppg) reunites with former teammate Jordan Meka (1.8 ppg and 2.2 rpg), who is currently a graduate forward on the Monmouth squad. Both previously played together at Georgia Tech their freshman, sophomore and junior years from 2020-23.

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

» This season, the Tigers are 5-0 at home this season outscoring opponents by 38.4 points per game (94.6 to 56.2). All five games have been decided by at least 23 points.

» Auburn is shooting 54.5 percent (171-314) at Neville Arena including 39.7 percent (56-141) from 3-point range. They are also holding opponents to 32.6 percent (99-304) shooting overall and 22.5 percent (25-111) from long range.

AGAINST THE CAA

» Auburn is 11-3 all-time against the 2024-25 members of the Coastal Athletic Association (previously the Colonial Athletic Association) including three-straight victories.

» Under Coach Pearl, the Tigers are 2-0 against the current members of the CAA with a 62-58 victory over College of Charleston in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament in San Diego, Calif., and an 89-78 win over Hofstra in the 2017 Charleston Classic in Charleston, S.C.

BEST STARTS

» AU has started the season 11-1 or better through 12 games for the 10th time in program history and the fourth time in the last eight years.

» With a win over Monmouth, the Tigers would open a season 12-1 or better for the ninth time in program history and the fourth time in the last eight years.

» An Auburn win on Monday would also tie a program record for winning its 12th game before the beginning of SEC play for the sixth time including the third time under head coach Bruce Pearl. The Tigers previously reached the mark during the 1995-96, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2017-18 and 2019-20 seasons.