Auburn defeats Mississippi State: advances to SEC Championship Game

On Saturday, the Auburn University men's basketball team defeated Mississippi State 73 to 60 in their Southeastern Conference semifinals game. Auburn now advances to the Conference tournament championship game on Sunday in Nashville against Florida.

If the Tigers win the championship game, they will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament; though with a record that was tied for second place in the SEC Auburn is already virtually assured a spot in the field of 68 teams in the tournament.

Five Tigers scored in the double digits. Chad Baker-Mazara scored 14 points and had 4 rebounds. Denver Jones had 13 points and 4 rebounds. Jaylin Williams contributed 13 points and 4 rebounds. Johni Broome scored 10 and has 3 rebounds. Tre Donaldson also had 10 points and 1 rebound.

Auburn is coached by Bruce Pearl. Pearl and Auburn legend Sonny Smith are the only two Auburn coaches to reach the SEC CG multiple times. Smith was 1 and 1 in SEC Championships. If Auburn wins, this would be his second SEC Championship at the school.

This is only the fifth time in the history of Auburn basketball that the Tigers have played in the SEC Championship game.

Florida and Auburn will play in the SEC Championship game Sunday at 12 noon CDT on ESPN.

The NCAA selection committee will announce the field of 68 Sunday night.

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