Rasheem Barrett never hesitated.
With Texas A&M-Corpus Christi big man Chris Daniels barreling down the lane and looking for a dunk, Barrett had just two choices: Make a play or get out of the way.
Barrett wasn’t about to back down, even though the 7-foot, 265-pound Daniels had 7 inches and 40 pounds on him.
The Auburn junior guard timed his leap perfectly, planting his palm firmly on the ball and blocking Daniels’ dunk attempt midway through the second half.
It was that kind of game for Auburn, which was outnumbered and outsized but never out-hustled Wednesday night against TAMU-CC. The Tigers, down to seven scholarship players thanks to injuries, illness and academics, dominated the second half en route to a 76-58 victory.
Barrett scored all 14 of his points in the first half, helping the Tigers stay in the game while senior forward Frank Tolbert struggled with foul trouble.
“Rasheem stepped up big,” Tolbert said. “He’s been stepping up big this whole season. It’s just another game for him that he’s been real good.”
Tolbert bounced back after halftime, scoring 13 of his 15 in the second half. Senior Quan Prowell had a game-high 20.
Prowell said Auburn’s lack of depth has forced him to step up his offensive production.
“With the number of guys we’ve got now, and being a senior, there’s no looking back now,” he said. “All you can do is look forward. Me and Frank decided to put it on our shoulders and take care of business.”
Auburn (9-2) outscored A&M-CC 18-3 over an eight-minute stretch in the second half to put the game away.
Corpus Christi was undone by 26 turnovers, which led to 28 Auburn points. Daniels led the Islanders (3-9) with 13 points.
Auburn head coach Jeff Lebo had a deeper bench than originally expected: Sophomore forward Lucas Hargrove returned from a broken hand that cost him four games. Hargrove was scoreless in eight minutes.
“I appreciate his effort to come back,” Lebo said of Hargrove, whose left hand was in a cast until shortly before the game. “He hasn’t practiced in four weeks. … He wanted to get out there and help us.”
The Tigers were without centers Vot Barber (broken hand) and Boubacar Sylla (ankle) and guard Archie Miaway (academically ineligible).
Lebo said Barber would undergo surgery Friday and would likely miss more than six weeks.
“You’re looking at end of February for him, at best,” he said.
According to Lebo, Sylla’s ankle will be X-rayed this week. The results of that exam will determine the freshman’s timetable for return.
AU hosts Xavier on Sunday. The Tigers open Southeastern Conference play against Arkansas in Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum next Thursday.

| 737-2561