The Auburn Tigers are champions of the SEC, winning the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2019.
The Tigers claimed the title Sunday via a domination of Florida, taking down the Gators by a score of 86-67.
Auburn led 38-30 at halftime after Gator starting big man Micah Handlogten was injured in the opening minutes.
Though Auburn was shooting just 39% from the field and 20% from beyond three-point range, the Tigers leaned on their defense and were able to hold Florida below 30% from the field as well as 0 for 7 from three.
EFFORT pic.twitter.com/gjFXiJaWJx
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 17, 2024
stuffed. pic.twitter.com/qMzayViMRa
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 17, 2024
Johni Broome finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks and was named the tournament MVP. Denver Jones added 11 points while Chad Baker-Mazara had 10.
Florida was able to make it a 1-point game a few minutes into the second half but never found a way to take the lead, and Auburn would end up running away with things down the stretch.
Broome and company would take over the game in the final 10 minutes or so, going up by 21 with just over three minutes left and cementing an SEC Title.
ALL GAS👀 pic.twitter.com/WMwaDdxmRS
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 17, 2024
BIG MAN STEAL🫨 pic.twitter.com/ZHzALS9VaE
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 17, 2024
Broome finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks and was named the tournament MVP. Denver Jones added 11 points while Chad Baker-Mazara had 10.
“I’ve never coached a team that got along better than this team and took in more information from the coaching staff than this team,” said Head Coach Bruce Pearl, who became the first Auburn coach to win multiple SEC Tournament championships.
Auburn will now await its fate to see who they will match up with in the NCAA Tournament and what seed the group will land.
Most predictors had Auburn as a four or five seed headed into the SEC Tournament, and with a tournament title in hand, the Tigers will hope to move up even farther than that.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP
