AUBURN, Ala. --Coming off back-to-back losses to end the regular season, Auburn needed a bounce-back win Friday. Auburn found that bounce-back win to start the SEC tournament as they completed their three-game season sweep against Ole Miss 62-57.
It was a slow start for both teams as only three players scored in the first five minutes. The only bright spot for Auburn early offensively was Denver Jones, who hit his first two shots from beyond the arc. The rest of the Tigers struggled after their near-week-long break as Broome’s one free throw broke a four and a half minute drought.
On the defensive end, Auburn continued their excellent play, limiting Ole Miss to multiple long scoreless stretches. These great defensive stretches helped Auburn to stay in the game long enough to start getting going on the offensive end. Led by Johni Broome and Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn opened up a nine-point lead late in the first half.
In a low-scoring first half for both teams, Auburn led by seven behind Denver and Johni combining for 19 of the team’s 29. For Ole Miss, the scoring was spread out, but was rare as they shot just 27% from the field in the first half.
Broome continued his great offensive first half alongside Miles Kelly into the second half, but Ole Miss would not go away. Behind Dre Davis’ and Sean Pedulla’s personal 7-0 run, the Rebels would tie the game with about six and a half minutes left. The Rebels would go down by three just a possession later, but made Auburn feel pressure to score every time down before the game got away from them.
Auburn started to pull away as they went up by eight with only a couple of minutes left. Ole Miss tried to get a comeback late behind Sean Pedulla, but a clutch shot by Johni Broome clinched the five-point win for the Tigers.
After the game, Ole Miss coach, Chris Beard, says Johni Broome was the difference in the game.
"23 and 15 on the biggest stage and when his team needs a shot, he makes it."
Auburn will play either Tennessee or Texas on Saturday. Auburn’s semifinal game will be broadcast on ESPN at noon CT.
