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Comeback falls short as Larkin loses to Auburn

ROCKFORD - Larkin's boys basketball team chipped away at a double-digit deficit throughout the second half Wednesday night. The Royals scratched and clawed but they couldn't get a big stop or a big bucket when they really needed one. The result was a 72-65 loss to Rockford Auburn in the D-205 Tip-Off Classic at Auburn.

Larkin trailed by as many as 17 in the first half and the Royals found themselves looking at a 47-35 hole at the break. In the second half, the Royals ratcheted up the defense and whittled away the deficit, getting as close as 4 points at 67-63. But every time Larkin started to make a move, the Knights had an answer.

After Christian Negron scored to get Larkin within 4, Terry Ford answered for Auburn. After a Larkin miss, Yahmir Muhammad added 2 free throws and the Knights had some breathing room again.

"Overall, we didn't play well enough," said Larkin coach Deryn Carter. "We kept guys out of the point a little better (in the second half), but hats off to them. They were ready to play, they dictated tempo, they were the tougher team. Top to bottom, we've got to do a better job. Hopefully, the turkey (Thursday) takes this taste out of our mouths."

Negron finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds for Larkin. A.J. Hunter and Keyvon Kyles added 14 points apiece. Sophomore center Jalen Shaw had 9 points and 8 rebounds.

The Royals just could not stop Auburn's Trayvon Tyler. He scored on drives, long jumpers, and just about everything in between, finishing with 26 points. He also had 8 rebounds a 4 assists. Ford, off the bench, was the only other Knight in double figures with 11 points, although 3 players finished with 9 points.

Larkin shot just 36 percent and turned the ball over 10 times while falling into a big first-half hole. Auburn took its biggest lead at 37-20 on a Ford 3-pointer during a frenetic second quarter that saw Auburn outscore the Royals 21-20.

After Auburn scored the first basket of the second half, Larkin answered with a 12-4 run. Five different Royals scored during that spurt, and Auburn never led by double digits after that.

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