Business Handled: Auburn Owns The State of Michigan, Punches Final Four Ticket to San Antonio

Sweet 16: Auburn 78, Michigan 65 – Pettiford Answers, Broome Dominates, and Auburn Sends the Wolverines Home

The buildup was all about Tre Donaldson's revenge. The former Auburn guard, now wearing maize and blue, had a score to settle. He left the Plains with some heat on his back and found himself facing the Tigers on the biggest stage yet — a Sweet 16 showdown in Atlanta. But once the ball tipped, it wasn't about Donaldson. It was about who replaced him.

Freshman Tahaad Pettiford didn't just win the point guard matchup. He embarrassed it. After Donaldson flexed on him early with a "too small" gesture following a tough two-point bucket, Pettiford dropped 20 points, dished out assists, and sparked Auburn's momentum during a key first-half stretch. Donaldson? Scoreless for the final 30 minutes, finishing with just five points and a front-row seat to Auburn's statement win.

Donaldson Lit the Fire, Pettiford Poured the Gasoline

With 11:09 left in the first half, Donaldson's bucket over Pettiford briefly gave Michigan a 15–13 lead. He let him know about it with the taunt. From that moment forward, the game flipped.

Pettiford responded immediately with a layup and one (he hit the free throw), then scored again on a dish from Chaney Johnson. He went coast-to-coast, he finished through contact, and he controlled pace like a vet — not a freshman in his first NCAA Tournament run.

Meanwhile, Donaldson vanished. Literally, he didn't score another point the rest of the night and committed multiple turnovers in the second half as Auburn's defense tightened the screws.

Broome Sets the Tone, Controls the Paint

While Pettiford stole the narrative, Johni Broome controlled the game. The big man was everywhere — finishing with 22 points, 16 rebounds, and a pair of blocks in one of his most dominant performances of the season.

Broome recorded his fourth career NCAA Tournament double-double, and it was nearly wrapped up by halftime. With 10 points and 11 boards before the break, he set the physical tone that Michigan's frontcourt simply couldn't match.

He passed Chuck Person and Gary Redding for third on Auburn's all-time rebounding list during the game and now owns the school record for most rebounds in a single NCAA Tournament (39), topping Person's previous mark of 38 from 1986.

Even more impressive? He did it all while shouldering more offensive load than usual as Dylan Cardwell and Chaney Johnson rotated in and out of the post.

Depth Wins Again

The Tigers are built different this year. Ten players played double-digit minutes. Seven scored at least five points. Three dropped 20.

Pettiford (20), Broome (22), and Denver Jones (20) all carried scoring loads at different stretches, making Auburn the only team in the 2025 tournament so far to have three 20-point scorers in a game.

Jones' shooting was crucial — 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, including two back-to-back threes that killed a second-half Michigan rally.

Defensively, Auburn rotated bodies and legs relentlessly. The Tigers forced Michigan into a season-low shooting percentage from deep and 14 turnovers. They allowed just 29 first-half points — the 15th time this year they've held an opponent under 30 before the break.

Big Picture: A Statement Game

This wasn't just a win. It was Auburn flexing on the national stage. They played in front of a packed crowd at State Farm Arena and looked completely at home.

They improved to 22–13 all-time in the NCAA Tournament and punched just their third-ever ticket to the Elite Eight. Head coach Bruce Pearl, now 11–5 in NCAA Tournament games at Auburn, added to his growing legacy by taking down a brand-name program on a big stage — and with a freshman point guard leading the way.

Stat Sheet Highlights

• Broome: 22 pts, 16 rebs, 2 blk
• Pettiford: 20 pts, 4 ast, 1 stl
• Jones: 20 pts, 4-7 3PT
• Auburn Bench: 24 pts
• Michigan FG% (2nd Half): 34%
• Auburn FT: 14-18 (78%)

Final Thought

Tre Donaldson had his shot at redemption. Instead, it was Tahaad Pettiford who rewrote the story. Auburn advances to the Elite Eight, having now beaten every Big Ten opponent they've faced this season. The message? You come for Auburn — you better be ready for a full 40 minutes of hell.

Elite Eight: Auburn 70, Michigan State 64 – Broome's Grit, Pettiford's Poise, and a Final Four Ticket Punched

Auburn is heading back to the Final Four for just the second time in school history — and they did it the hard way. They didn't ride hot shooting or flashy dunks. They outworked and outlasted Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans, handing him his first-ever NCAA Tournament loss to an SEC opponent (he was 10–0) and taking down the last Big Ten team standing in the process.

With a gritty 70–64 win, Bruce Pearl's Tigers made it clear: this isn't just a magical run, this is a damn good basketball team playing its best ball when it matters most.

Broome's Grit Becomes the Heartbeat

Let's start here: Johni Broome hyperextended his right elbow midway through the first half. Trainers helped him off the floor, and Auburn fans held their breath.

Five minutes later, Broome checked back in, immediately grabbed a rebound, and drained a three-pointer — with one good arm. It was a moment. A rallying cry. A pulse check for a team that feeds off his presence.

He finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 blocks, locking up his fifth career NCAA Tournament double-double — tying Jeff Moore for the most in Auburn history. And it wasn't just the numbers. It was the timing.

When Michigan State clawed within five with under five minutes left, Broome silenced the run with a perfectly timed backdoor seal, drop-step, and finish. He played through visible discomfort, icing the arm during media timeouts and gritting his teeth through every rebound. That's toughness. That's leadership.

Broome now sits second on Auburn's all-time rebounding list and fourth on the career NCAA Tournament scoring list. He's been unstoppable during March, averaging 17.3 points and 13.3 boards per game through four rounds.

Pettiford Keeps His Cool

If Broome is the engine, Tahaad Pettiford is the gearshift. The freshman point guard didn't stuff the box score in this one (10 points, 3 assists), but his poise late was everything.

With Auburn's offense sputtering and Michigan State dialing up full-court pressure, Pettiford calmly controlled tempo, got Auburn into sets, and drilled a pair of massive second-half threes — including a heat-check off a Broome screen that extended the lead to 12.

Through four tournament games, Pettiford is averaging 17.3 points per game, shooting nearly 40% from deep, and playing well beyond his years. No moment looks too big. No matchup too fast.

Defensive Identity Shines Again

Michigan State started fast, hitting three of their first five shots and briefly taking an 8-6 lead. That was their last taste of momentum for a long time.

Auburn's defense locked in after that, holding the Spartans scoreless for nearly four minutes and forcing five turnovers before the under-12 timeout. They led 33–24 at the half and improved to 28–1 this season when leading at the break.

The Spartans shot just 5-of-19 from three and had to scrap for everything inside. Every cut was shadowed. Every drive met resistance. Jaden Akins finished with 13, but no other Spartan hit double figures until the final minute.

Chaney Johnson and Dylan Cardwell combined for four blocks and double-digit rebounds off the bench. Auburn's rotations were crisp, communication was tight, and Pearl's game plan — forcing tough, contested jumpers — worked to perfection.

Balanced Offense. Again.

While Broome carried the load, Auburn's balance showed up again.

• Chad Baker-Mazara hit two threes, adding 8 points and key perimeter defense.
• Miles Kelly nailed a couple of mid-range daggers and pulled down 6 rebounds.
• Denver Jones added 9 points and 2 assists, staying aggressive in transition.

No player on Auburn's roster took more than 12 shots. That's what this team is — democratic, efficient, and willing to let the hot hand cook.

They finished with 16 assists on 24 made field goals, continuing a season-long trend of unselfish play. With 602 total assists now on the year, this squad joins last season's group as the only teams in program history to crack 600.

Closing with Confidence

Michigan State didn't go away. They never do. A flurry of late threes from Akins and Kohler cut Auburn's lead to five with under two minutes left, and it started to feel like we'd see a patented Izzo March comeback.

But Auburn never blinked.

Pettiford broke the press and fed Broome for a hammer dunk. Kelly nailed a pair of free throws. Denver Jones buried two more at the stripe. Auburn went 6-of-7 from the line in the final 90 seconds, calmly shutting the door on a legendary coach and a battle-tested team.

Final Box Highlights

• Broome: 25 pts, 14 reb, 2 blk
• Pettiford: 10 pts, 3 ast, 2 3PTM
• Johnson: 6 pts, 2 blk, 4 reb
• Assists: Auburn 16, MSU 9
• Turnovers: Auburn 6 (1 off tournament record)
• Rebounds: Auburn +7 margin

Pearl's Second Final Four — and a Legacy Grows

Bruce Pearl now joins rare SEC coaching air. He's taken Auburn to two Final Fours in six NCAA Tournaments — a feat only a handful of modern coaches can claim.

He beat Tom Izzo in March. He knocked off Purdue and Michigan. And he did it while rotating ten players, trusting freshmen in big moments, and leaning on veterans to anchor the ship.

Pearl's teams win with toughness, defense, and swagger — and this group might be his best yet.

Big Ten Sweep. Statement Made.

Auburn didn't just punch a Final Four ticket. They ran through the entire state of Michigan, beating Michigan and Michigan State in a three-day span and renaming Lake Michigan the Gulf of Auburn!

That's after blowing out Ohio State and dismantling Purdue earlier this year. The Tigers are now 4–0 against the Big Ten this season with a combined margin of victory of +59.

Final Word

There's no more sneaking up. No more Cinderella talk. Auburn is a top-five team with a top-five resume and a golden opportunity in front of them.

They've won four straight NCAA Tournament games by multiple possessions. They've shut down four unique styles of play. And they're heading to San Antonio with a bruised big man, a fearless freshman, and a hell of a lot of momentum.

Auburn 70, Michigan State 64.

Final Four. Let's dance