Xavier gave Auburn all it could handle but it wasn't enough in a heart-stopping overtime thriller that went Auburn's way, 88-79, in the opening game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center.
Auburn outscored Xavier 11-2 in overtime after Xavier won the second half 49-44, and the game might have entirely gone a different way if Xavier didn't turn the ball over 22 times, leading to 31 Auburn points.
Xavier never went away. Every time the Tigers went on a run, Xavier answered.
Xavier trailed 77-72 with 54 seconds left in the game when Paul Scruggs knocked down a massive transition three to make it a two-point game with 53.