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Auburn Bounces Past UT-Martin 87-82

DeWayne Reed led the Tigers with 23 points.

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Auburn's Quantez Robertson (23) battles for a loose ball with Tennessee Martin's Lester Hudson (5). (AP)

Auburn's Quantez Robertson (23) battles for a loose ball with Tennessee Martin's Lester Hudson (5). (AP)

March 18, 2009

AUBURN, Ala. (AP)--DeWayne Reed scored 23 points and Quantez Robertson added 19 to lead Auburn to an 87-82 victory over Tennessee-Martin in the opening round of the NIT on Wednesday night.

Reed made five 3-pointers for the Tigers (23-11), who hit a season-high 14 from beyond the arc in their first postseason game since 2003. Auburn faces the Northwestern-Tulsa winner on Friday night.

Lester Hudson, the nation's No. 2 scorer, led the Skyhawks (22-10) with 33 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. The Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions were making their first Division I postseason appearance.

UT Martin trailed by 15 points midway through the second half, but made it tight at the end.

Auburn hit six of 10 free throws over the final 52 seconds to seal the win.