Johni Broome #4 of the Auburn Tigers
Auburn Punches Ticket to Final Four with Gritty Win Over Michigan State
The Auburn Tigers are headed to San Antonio. With a hard-fought 70-64 victory over the Michigan State Spartans on Sunday, Auburn secured its place in the 2025 Final Four, marking just the second time in program history that the Tigers have reached this stage of the NCAA Tournament.
It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Auburn, which stumbled into March Madness after losing three of its final four regular-season games. But when it mattered most, the Tigers flipped the switch, rattling off four straight wins to punch their ticket to the tournament’s third weekend for the first time since 2019. That run five years ago saw three Auburn players earn All-Region honors, and this year, two more Tigers added their names to that exclusive list.
Headlining the All-South Regional Team is Auburn’s star forward Johni Broome, who was named the region’s Most Outstanding Player, as reported by Taylor Jones of Auburn Wire. Broome becomes just the second Auburn player to earn the honor, following in the footsteps of Jared Harper in 2019.
Broome has been a force in this year’s tournament, averaging 17.3 points, 13.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field. After a quiet start in Auburn’s first two tournament games against Alabama State and Creighton, the senior big man erupted for 22 points and 16 rebounds in a Sweet 16 victory over Michigan. He followed that up with a dominant 25-point, 14-rebound performance on 10-of-13 shooting in Sunday’s win over Michigan State.
As the 2024-25 SEC Player of the Year and a two-time All-American, Broome has been Auburn’s driving force all season. Now, he’s two wins away from potentially delivering the school’s first national championship in its 119-year history.
Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford has also been instrumental in Auburn’s deep tournament run, earning a spot on the All-South Regional Team alongside Broome. Averaging 17.3 points per game, Pettiford has provided a dynamic scoring punch and complemented Broome’s dominance in the paint.
With momentum on their side and a trip to San Antonio secured, the Tigers have their eyes set on making even more history. The Final Four awaits, and Auburn is ready for the challenge.
