Auburn’s Triumph Over Michigan State: A Game of Highs, Lows, and Resilience
ATLANTA — The atmosphere at State Farm Arena was electric as Auburn faced off against Michigan State in the Elite Eight. With 10:27 left in the first half, Johni Broome nailed a 3-pointer from the wing, sending Auburn fans into a frenzy. This shot was the climax of a 17-0 run that gave Auburn a commanding 15-point lead. Broome, a national player of the year hopeful, was at the center of it all, celebrating with his teammates and declaring, “I do this!” as he embarked on a 25-point, 14-rebound performance.
At that moment, it seemed Auburn had the game in the bag, with Broome clearly the standout player on the court. However, the game took a dramatic turn with 10:37 left in the second half. Broome, the SEC Player of the Year, was seen clutching his right elbow after a fall while attempting to block a shot by Frankie Fidler. The sight of Broome walking off the court and into the locker room, seemingly mouthing “I’m done,” cast a shadow over the Auburn fans who had turned the arena into a home game atmosphere.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Broome’s return, Auburn maintained their lead. The tension in the arena was palpable until, with 5:29 remaining, Broome re-emerged from the tunnel, ready to rejoin the fray. Just a minute later, he sank another 3-pointer, restoring Auburn’s double-digit lead and reigniting the crowd’s enthusiasm. The school later announced that X-rays on Broome’s elbow were negative, allowing Auburn’s pursuit of their first national title to continue.
“It was a scary moment,” Broome admitted. “I went down, but my team had my back.”
Auburn’s victory over Michigan State ensured that all of this year’s No. 1 seeds advanced to the Final Four, a feat not seen since 2008. Joining Auburn in the Final Four are Florida, Duke, and Houston. This marks only the second time since seeding began in 1979 that all top seeds have reached the semifinals. Additionally, higher-seeded teams went 12-0 in regional semifinals and finals for the first time since the tournament expanded in 1985.
- Auburn’s early lead: 23-8
- Points per 100 possessions: 176
- Michigan State’s coach: Tom Izzo
- Auburn’s record before the tournament: 1-3 stretch
- Upcoming opponent: Florida
- Florida’s opening odds: 2.5-point favorite
Despite Auburn’s early dominance, Michigan State, under the guidance of coach Tom Izzo, was not to be underestimated. Izzo had never lost to an SEC opponent in the NCAA tournament before this game, and his Spartans fought valiantly, even having a chance to cut Auburn’s lead to five points with a minute left after forcing a turnover.
However, Michigan State was up against an Auburn team that had lost just one game in a 90-day stretch this season. This was the Auburn squad that had secured the top overall seed and dominated the SEC, not the one that had stumbled in the weeks leading up to the NCAA tournament. Even Auburn coach Bruce Pearl acknowledged that his team had taken a step back during that period.
But the synchronization Pearl sought returned in full force against Michigan and Michigan State in Atlanta. Key players like Miles Kelly, Denver Jones, and Tahaad Pettiford stepped up, with Pettiford emerging as one of the top freshmen in the country.
Ultimately, it was Broome who reminded everyone why the national player of the year conversation has been a two-man race all season. His leadership and performance propelled Auburn to their second Final Four appearance in school history. Auburn will now face Florida in an all-SEC national semifinal on Saturday in San Antonio, with Florida opening as a 2.5-point favorite.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Originally Written by: Myron Medcalf
