Auburn defeats Michigan: Headed to the Elite Eight

March 28, 2025 – ATLANTA, GA - The number one seeded Auburn Tigers men's basketball team will be playing for a berth in the Final Four on Sunday after defeating Michigan 78 to 65 Friday night.

Auburn had a 30 to 29 lead at halftime; but Michigan was totally unprepared for the defensive intensity of Auburn in the second half. It was a down shooting night for the Tigers who shot just 39.4 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from the three-point line. Auburn was 3 of 16 from 3 in the first half: but they held Michigan to 35.6 percent from the field and 29.4 percent from three. Auburn had 23 points off of turnovers to just 13 for Michigan. That and rebounds were the difference. Michigan was outrebounded by Auburn 33 to 48.

Auburn Senior Forward/Center Johni Broome had his best game of the tournament with 22 points, 16 rebounds, two steals, and one assist.

Auburn Senior Point Guard Denver Jones played a masterful game with 20 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Freshman sensation Taahad Pettiford contributed 20 points and three assists. Senior Center Dylan Cardwell contributed nine rebounds, three assists, and one point.

Junior Center Danny Wolf led the Wolverines in scoring with 20 points and six rebounds.

Auburn is Coached by Bruce Pearl – the winningest coach in the history of the program.

Pearl credit the players effort for the victory, "Just the kids' will to win." Pearl told reporters. "Denver got heated up. Tahaad got heated up. We went to them, and they delivered."

"I saw one go in, and I just saw the basket get bigger and bigger," Jones said. "So I just kept shooting."

There are no "Cinderellas" this year. The Elite Eight includes: Auburn, Duke, Houston, Florida, Texas Tech, Michigan State, Tennessee, and Alabama. This has been a NCAA tournament with no real upsets to speak of as the transfer portal and NIL money separates the haves from the have nots more than in perhaps any other era of college basketball. All four number one seeds – Auburn, Duke, Houston, and Florida – advanced to the Elite Eight. Alabama, Tennessee, and Michigan State were all number two seeds. The lowest seed remaining in the tournament is Texas Tech as a number three seed. Number 15 seed Robert Morris was defeated by Alabama in their opening game of the tournament. Instead of the young Robert Morris players building on the experience for next year, on Friday, the entire starting lineup of the team entered the transfer portal to go play elsewhere – hopefully for NIL riches.

The Southeastern Conference got a record 14 teams in the NCAA tournament field. Seven of those teams advanced to the Sweet 16 and four survived to the Elite eight. Duke is the ACC Champion. Michigan State is the last remaining Big 10 team. Houston and Texas Tech are representing the Big 12 conference.

For Auburn the time is now for this team. Denver Jones, Miles Kelly, Johni Broome, Cheney Johnson, Chad Baker-Mazara, and Dylan Cardwell all are seniors. Next year's team won't look anything like this year's. Pettiford is the only non-senior to score points for Auburn tonight.

Auburn has gone to the Final Four only once in the history of the program. That team was also coached by Pearl.

Auburn plays Michigan State on Sunday at 4:05 in Atlanta.