Auburn Rallies Past Michigan, Secures Spot in Elite Eight with Historic Victory
ATLANTA – A thrilling second-half surge saw top-seeded Auburn overpower No. 5 Michigan, clinching a 78-65 victory at State Farm Arena on Friday and propelling the Tigers into the Elite Eight. The win not only advanced Auburn closer to a national championship but also marked a historic achievement for the program, as they set a new record with 31 wins in a single season.
Auburn coach Bruce Pearl couldn’t contain his excitement as he left the court, drawing comparisons to the Tigers’ home crowd atmosphere at Neville Arena. “That was like Neville Arena!” Pearl exclaimed, acknowledging the significant presence of Auburn fans who gave the team an unmistakable home-court advantage.
The Tigers turned the game around in the second half with a remarkable 34-8 run, a testament to their grit and determination. Pearl credited his team’s defense and resilience, saying, “It’s just the kids’ will to win. They locked down defensively. Great win for Auburn. Four teams from the SEC in the Elite Eight. That’s pretty good.”
Auburn’s star player, All-American Johni Broome, led the charge, finishing with an impressive 22 points and 16 rebounds. Broome’s all-around performance helped keep the Tigers on track, especially as they battled back from a nine-point deficit in the second half. “Every day I step on the court, I want to give my all for my teammates,” said Broome. “I did what I had to do to help my team win, whether that’s offensively or defensively.”
Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones were also key contributors, each scoring 20 points to fuel Auburn’s comeback. As the game intensified, the Tigers leaned on their sharp-shooters, with Pearl noting, “They got really heated up. Denver got heated up. Tahaad got heated up. We went to them, and they delivered.”
After a strong first-half performance, with Broome recording a double-double, the Tigers entered the second half with a narrow one-point lead. But Michigan’s Danny Wolf, who led the Wolverines with 20 points, refused to let Auburn cruise to victory. Wolf’s nine points in the first seven minutes of the second half helped Michigan briefly extend their lead to nine. However, Auburn’s defense tightened, and their offense caught fire, pushing the Tigers to a commanding lead they would not relinquish.
With the win, Auburn is now just three victories away from securing a national championship, and their dominant performance has made them a team to watch as March Madness continues.