NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Johni Broome delivered a stellar performance with 23 points and 14 rebounds, as the regular-season champions Auburn clinched a victory against eighth-seeded Mississippi with a final score of 62-57 in the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Friday.
Ranked third in the tournament, the Tigers (28-4) will face No. 8 Tennessee, who triumphed over 13th-seeded Texas with a score of 83-72, in the semifinals on Saturday.
Denver Jones contributed 13 points, helping Auburn break their two-game losing streak.
The Ole Miss Rebels (21-11) have faced top-five ranked teams recently, losing two of their last three games. Despite Dre Davis and Sean Pedulla adding 12 points each, along with Malik Dia and Jaylen Murray scoring 10 apiece, Ole Miss could not secure a victory.
After a week off following an overtime loss to Alabama, the Tigers showed initial signs of rust. Auburn managed a 29-22 lead at halftime but was unable to extend the lead beyond ten points.
Ole Miss has a 4-2 record against Auburn on neutral grounds and is 2-2 at this particular tournament. They have fallen to 1-4 in the quarterfinals, with their last appearance in the semifinals occurring in 2013.
Auburn, on the other hand, has won this tournament three times, with two victories under coach Bruce Pearl. They last claimed the title in 2019 with Pearl and previously in 1985. The Tigers have also secured three league regular-season titles, making them the leaders in the SEC for most men’s championships since 2018.
The pivotal point in the game came when the Tigers and Rebels were tied at 46, following a layup by Pedulla. Auburn then launched an 11-1 run. Johnson’s three-pointer with just over six minutes remaining put Auburn ahead for good. Broome followed with five consecutive points and Jones completed a three-point play, building a 57-47 lead for the Tigers.
With a close score of 60-57 as the game neared its end, Broome sank a crucial short jumper with 11.1 seconds remaining to ensure Auburn’s win. The Tigers successfully scored on six of their final eight attempts.
Auburn had previously claimed a victory over Texas during the regular season and narrowly defeated Tennessee by two points in a game on January 25 held on Auburn’s home court. Meanwhile, Ole Miss returns home to await information on their NCAA Tournament position.
