Auburn 83, Milwaukee 73: KT Harrell had 20 points and Cinmeon Bowers scored 18 points and pulled down 17 rebounds and the host Tigers rallied from a dozen points down to hand coach Bruce Pearl a win in his return to the sidelines.

Antoine Mason, a transfer from Niagara who led the nation in scoring last season, shook off an ankle injury to score 19 points in the season opener for both teams. The Tigers used a 19-2 run in the second half to take the lead and pulled away in the game's final minutes.

Akeem Springs paced Milwaukee with 21 points but the Panthers were slowed by foul trouble and poor foul shooting. Three Milwaukee starters fouled out and the Panthers made just 6-of-14 attempts from the free-throw line.

Pearl was given a three-year show-cause suspension after he lied to NCAA officials during an investigation while he was the coach at Tennessee. He was fired from the Vols in 2011 and spent time as an analyst at ESPN before being hired at Auburn this year.

His Tigers blew an early nine-point lead and trailed 32-29 at the half. They trailed 55-43 in the second half before going on an extended run which included seven points by Mason.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Milwaukee hasn't beaten a team from a power conference since a 2006 win over Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament. ... Milwaukee used its final timeout with 8:57 left in the second half. ...Auburn's starting guard Tahj Shamsid-Deen injured his shoulder early in the second half and did not return.