It’s been a long time. Thirty-six days to be exact.
The Auburn basketball team hasn’t played a home game since Nov. 13 — a 74-62 win against Kennesaw State.
Today, the Tigers (5-2) will bring it back to Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum for a 7 p.m. game against Mercer (4-5).
And it’s good to be back.
“It is nice to be at home,” Auburn head coach Jeff Lebo said. “Six of our first seven on the road and traveling has been tough, especially with our lack of depth.”
Oh, the storylines are abundant for the Tigers this year. It began with news that two of its best players would miss time — last year’s leading scorer Josh Dollard is out for the season (medical reasons) and second-leading scorer Quan Prowell was suspended the
first five games (undisclosed team violations).
Prowell returned just in time for Auburn to play West Virginia in the Big East/SEC Invitational, but it wasn’t enough. The Mountaineers dismantled Auburn, 88-59.
Then there’s Auburn’s lack of depth. The Tigers are down to eight scholarship players healthy enough to compete. Three AU players have played the full 40 minutes in at least one game — Quantez Robertson (3), DeWayne Reed (2) and Korvotney Barber (1).
Then, well, then there’s the road schedule, the fatigue and the poor free-throw shooting. Oh, Auburn can make shots from the floor.
Currently, the Tigers are first in the SEC in field goal percentage per game (51.3) and second in steals (10.1). But from the line, well, that’s a different story.
Auburn is last in the country in free-throw percentage as a team, making just 52 percent of its shots.
And the plot thickens tonight against Mercer, who opened the season with perhaps the program’s biggest win.
The Bears won at No. 18 USC behind 30 points from guard James Florence, who is averaging 17.4 points a game.
“Mercer is a very good basketball team,” Lebo said. “They have a terrific guard in James Florence, who can flat-out score the ball. He can beat you by himself.”
Auburn is coming off a close win over Southern last Saturday night. Despite playing with a comfortable lead most of the game, including a 61-48 lead with 6:44 left, the Tigers gave up an 11-3 run late in the second half to lead only by 3 with 56 seconds to play.
“We didn’t put a dagger in them to make some shots,” Lebo said.
Prowell, who is now getting his legs under him, led the Tigers in scoring against Souther, with 21 points. Rasheem Barrett recorded his first career double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Tonight’s game is Toys for Tots night. Admission is $5 or free for anyone who donates a toy.

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Mercer at Auburn
Where: Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum
When: 7 p.m.
TV/Radio: None/97.7FM
Records: Auburn 5-2; Mercer 4-5
Scouting Report: This is Auburn’s first home game in 36 days. The Tigers host a Mercer team who has played very well on the road, including a huge upset win over then No. 18 USC in the season opener. Guard James Florence is averaging 17.4 points a game. Auburn is No. 1 in the SEC in field goal percentage (51.3) but last in the country in free-throw percentage (52.0).
Projected starters, Mercer: F Calvin Henry, 6-6 Jr. (11.9 points, 7.1 rebounds per game); F Brian Pfohl, 6-7 Sr. (12.8 points, 5.3 rebounds); F Sam Dolan, 6-8 Sr. (7.3 points, 4.3 rebounds); G James Florence, 6-1 So. (17.4 points, 3.6 assists); G Shaddean Aaron, 6-5 Sr. (15.4 points, 4.4 rebounds)
Projected starters, Auburn: F Korvotney Barber, 6-7 Jr. (14.9 points, 7.9 rebounds); G Frank Tolbert, 6-4, Sr. (10.6 points, 2.1 steals); G DeWayne Reed, 6-1, So. (10.4 points, 3.1 steals); G Rasheem Barrett, 6-5, Jr. (13.6 points, 3.9 assists); G Quantez Robertson, 6-3, Jr. (7.7 points, 5 assists)