SEC Showdown: Quarterfinal Clashes Set After Thrilling Second-Round Finishes
Pedula Ends Razorbacks Tourney Run with Crazy Buzzer Beater
Ole Miss survived a wild finish against Arkansas in the second round of the SEC Tournament, pulling off an 83-80 victory on a last-second three-pointer by Sean Pedulla. The Rebels nearly let the game slip away after leading by as many as 15 in the first half, but they regrouped just in time. Arkansas took control in the second half with a 34-11 run, grabbing a 61-53 lead with just under 10 minutes to play. Ole Miss battled back, setting up the dramatic conclusion. With the game tied at 80, Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile stepped to the free-throw line with 7.4 seconds remaining but missed both shots. Dre Davis secured the rebound and pushed the ball ahead to Pedulla, who launched a deep three that found the net with 1.3 seconds left. A desperation heave from Billy Richmond III at the buzzer missed, sending the Rebels into the quarterfinals.
Malik Dia led the way for Ole Miss with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Jaylen Murray added 17. Pedulla finished with 10, including the game-winner. For Arkansas, Jonas Aidoo had 17 points and eight boards before fouling out, and Brazile posted a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Ole Miss advances to face top-seeded Auburn in the SEC quarterfinals. The Tigers dominated the Rebels in both regular-season matchups, including a 106-76 blowout in late February. For Arkansas, the wait begins for Selection Sunday, where they’ll hope their resume is strong enough for an NCAA Tournament bid.
Auburn enters the SEC quarterfinals as one of the conference’s top teams, finishing 27-4 overall and 15-3 in league play. The Tigers have been dominant offensively, averaging over 85 points per game while allowing just 70. They’ll face an Ole Miss team that has had a solid season but struggled against Auburn, losing both regular-season meetings by an average of 23.5 points.
The Tigers are led by Johni Broome, a force inside who averages 18.6 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He had 24 points in their last meeting against Ole Miss. The Rebels will counter with Sean Pedulla, who leads the team with 15 points per game, and Malik Dia, their top rebounder at 5.7 per contest.
Ole Miss will need to play one of its best games of the season to pull off an upset. The Rebels’ defense has struggled against elite teams, and Auburn has consistently taken advantage of their weaknesses. If Ole Miss can limit turnovers and hit outside shots, they have a chance to make this a competitive game.
Score Prediction
Auburn’s depth and efficiency on both ends of the floor will likely be too much for Ole Miss to handle. Expect the Rebels to put up a fight early, but Auburn’s size and scoring ability should take over in the second half. Auburn 91, Ole Miss 75.
Lone Star Showdown Does Not Disappoint
Texas outlasted Texas A&M in a double-overtime thriller, securing a 94-88 win to extend their first-ever SEC Tournament run. The Longhorns, playing as the No. 13 seed, are trying to fight their way into the NCAA Tournament and took a big step in that direction with this victory. Tre Johnson hit the go-ahead three-pointer with just over two minutes left in the second overtime, and Texas sealed the game at the free-throw line.
Texas A&M had its chances to win, particularly at the end of regulation and the first overtime. Wade Taylor IV, who led the Aggies with 29 points, had a jumper bounce off the rim at the end of regulation, forcing overtime. In the second extra period, Texas A&M’s offense sputtered, missing seven of their final eight shots.
For Texas, Johnson led with 20 points, while Tramon Mark, Kadin Shedrick, and Jordan Pope all scored in double figures.The Aggies were led by Taylor’s 29, while Manny Obaseki had 17 before fouling out.
Texas moves on to face No. 4 seed Tennessee in the SEC quarterfinals. The Longhorns are riding momentum, having won two straight in Nashville, but they’ll have their hands full against a Tennessee team that has been one of the nation’s top defensive squads all season.
Tennessee enters this matchup with a strong defensive identity, allowing just 61.9 points per game, the best mark in the SEC. The Vols have already beaten Texas once this season, a 74-70 win in January where Zakai Zeigler scored 16 points and controlled the pace of the game.
Texas has relied heavily on Tre Johnson, who averages 20.1 points per game, but he’ll be tested by Tennessee’s aggressive perimeter defense. The Vols will lean on Chaz Lanier, their leading scorer at 17.9 points per game, and Zeigler, who leads the team with 7.5 assists per contest.
For Texas to pull off the upset, they’ll need to protect the ball and make timely outside shots. Tennessee has the edge defensively and should control the boards, which could make it difficult for the Longhorns to generate enough offense.
Score prediction
Tennessee’s defense should dictate this game. While Texas has played well in the tournament so far, the Vols are too disciplined on both ends of the floor to let this one slip away. Tennessee 76, Texas 67.
Mizzou Dominates 2nd Half to End the Bulldogs Hopes
Missouri handled Mississippi State 85-73 in the second round of the SEC Tournament, riding a strong performance from Tamar Bates, who finished with 25 points. The Tigers controlled the game down the stretch, hitting six of their final seven field-goal attempts while the Bulldogs made just one of their last nine.
Mississippi State kept the game competitive for most of the second half, but Missouri’s late surge proved too much. Tony Perkins added 20 points for the Tigers, while Caleb Grill hit a key three-pointer just before halftime to give Missouri a lead they never surrendered. Josh Hubbard led the Bulldogs with 24 points, and Keshawn Murphy added 18 in the loss.
Missouri moves on to the quarterfinals to face No. 4 seed Florida, a team that has won nine of its last ten games. Mississippi State, already projected as an NCAA Tournament team, will now wait to find out its seeding on Selection Sunday.
Florida comes in as one of the hottest teams in the SEC, led by Walter Clayton Jr., who averages 17.2 points per game. The Gators won 14 conference games and boast one of the best defenses in the league, allowing just 68.2 points per game.
Missouri won the lone meeting between these teams this season, pulling off an 83-82 win in January behind Caleb Grill’s 22 points. They’ll need another big game from him, along with Mark Mitchell, who has averaged 17.9 points over the last ten games.
The key battle will be on the glass, as Florida dominates the boards while Missouri is one of the worst rebounding teams in the SEC. If the Tigers can limit Florida’s second-chance points, they have a shot to pull off another upset.
Score prediction
Missouri will put up a fight, but Florida’s size and defense should prove to be the difference. Florida 82, Missouri 74.
Kentucky Sends OU back to Norman in a Nail-biter
Kentucky escaped with an 85-84 win over Oklahoma, surviving a furious Sooners comeback in the final minutes. The Wildcats led by ten with just over a minute to play but nearly collapsed before Otega Oweh hit the game-winner with 0.5 seconds left.
Jeremiah Fears led Oklahoma with 28 points, including a layup that gave the Sooners an 84-83 lead with 5.6 seconds remaining. Kentucky immediately pushed the ball down the floor, and Oweh finished at the rim with a buzzer beatinglayup.
Kentucky advances to face Alabama in the quarterfinals. The Crimson Tide won both regular-season matchups, but Kentucky will look to turn things around with momentum on their side.
Alabama has been one of the best offensive teams in the country, averaging 91.2 points per game. The Tide swept the regular-season series against Kentucky, including a 96-83 win in late February.
Kentucky will need a big game from Oweh, who leads the team in scoring at 16.5 points per game, while Alabama will rely on Mark Sears, their leading scorer at 19.2 points per contest.
Score prediction
Alabama’s fast-paced offense should be too much for Kentucky to handle. Alabama 94, Kentucky 84.