AUBURN, Ala. – The Auburn Tigers (22-7, 11-5) beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs (19-10, 8-8) 78-63 at Neville Arena Saturday, getting some payback after the Bulldogs handed Auburn their second SEC loss in Starkville in January. The win keeps the Tigers’ hopes of an SEC regular season title alive.
The Tigers came out of the gates fast, scoring well and playing stellar defense, holding State to just 22 first-half points and carried a 17-point lead into the half. The Bulldogs found some offense in the second, but it was never enough to threaten Auburn’s big lead.
Johni Broome led the way for the Tigers, scoring 17 points and grabbing six boards. Denver Jones had another big game on both eds, putting up 15 points and adding two steals. Coach Bruce Pearl and his staff will hope Jones has hit his stride at the right time, as the SEC Tournament is right around the corner.
The Bulldogs’ duo of Josh Hubbard and Tolu Smith continue their spectacular seasons, but they did not find much help from their teammates. Hubbard scored 23 points, 20 of which came in a second-half explosion. Smith had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bulldogs found success on the boards, as they did against the Tigers back in January, outrebounding Auburn 36-30, but their six more turnovers counteracted their good work in the hustle game. Auburn’s defense held Mississippi State to 39.3% from the field and swatted nine blocks. Nothing came easy for the Bulldogs all game.
Auburn had four players score in double figures, including Jaylin Williams in his first start since his knee injury against Kentucky two weeks ago. Williams’s presence was felt all over, as he recorded 10 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 22 minutes on the floor. The Tigers’ second leading scorer looked like he’s back at full strength as Auburn prepares for the postseason.
Auburn’s supporting cast helped get it done for the Tigers. Chaney Johnson had eight points in the first half. Tre Donaldson had six assists and no turnovers. Chad Baker-Mazara had 10 points and four assists, as well as some big hustle plays that did not show up in the box score. Lior Berman had five points and continued his recent stretch of efficient shooting, but went down with a knee injury in the second half and was helped to the locker room. No further details have been released yet.
The postseason is at the front of the Tigers’ collective mind. Broome spoke of coach Bruce Pearl’s reminding them of that after the game. “He been saying recently, you know, this is time to get hot… It’s time to make a run… We don’t plan on losing no more,” Broome said.
That run needs to start now if the Tigers want a second regular season conference title in three years. Today’s win keeps them in the race, but the pieces are going to have to fall the right way down the stretch, as they sit a game and a half back with a week remaining. They travel to Columbia, Missouri to take in the Tigers on Wednesday, and then come home to face Georgia for their final game on Senior Night a week from today.
