In a game where both the Auburn Tigers (27-8) and the Yale Bulldogs (23-9) won their conference tournament and traveled across the country to square off in Spokane, Washington as Yale hung around just enough to play Cinderella and spoil a promising Auburn season as they won 78-76.
4 seed Auburn, who was coming off a big win in Nashville, was looking at a run of games they would be favored in until they would square off with UConn in the Sweet 16. The Bulldogs had other plans as they played Auburn tight all the way down to the final whistle to move on to the Round of 32.
The Tigers thrived on turning over their opponents all season and after a first half where they forced nine in the second, they only forced two, opening the door for the Bulldogs who hung around and did not let Auburn get a lead larger than 10.
After the ejection of Chad Baker-Mazzara early in the first half the task became that much tougher for the Tigers but to pile on Yale caught fire. John Poulakidas became the latest phenom to play his way into March history with a performance that will not be forgotten by anyone especially Auburn and Yale fans soon. Poulakidas finished with 28 points two rebounds and two assists he shot an incredible 10-15 from the field and connected on six of nine attempts from beyond the arc.
Almost more important from Poulakidas was the timing of his shots, just when it seemed Auburn might pull away and snatch the momentum and put away the 14-seeded Yale Bulldogs he would connect on a ridiculous fadeaway three to slow the Auburn attack.
The Auburn Tigers, after losing a crucial piece in Baker-Mazara, turned to their all-SEC forward Johni Broome who came through for the Tigers as much as he could. Broome finished with 24 points 13 rebounds and four assists, he shot 70% from the field in his gritty outing as in a wild ending he battled through injuries on two straight plays to attempt to send the game to overtime.
Denver Jones ended with 17 points and Jaylin Williams finished with 13 to be the second and third scorers for Auburn.
Auburn had every chance at the end heading to the line to shoot two down two. After two missed Auburn grabbed the rebound and missed a putback as they got another putback off it would not fall and as the clock was ticking to zero down KD Johnson threw up a three that would not fall and Yale grabbed a huge upset.
Auburn finishes the season as SEC tournament champions and a top-four seed in the NCAA tournament with a record of 27-8.
