With just over ten minutes left in the game, Auburn star Johni Broome left the court while clutching his elbow and flinching in agony, causing the crowd at Atlanta’s State Farm Arena to become silent. The fifth-year senior’s words “I’m done” were captured on television as he left the floor, his mother walking down to join him.
The national player of the year contender came back to the floor six minutes later and made a right-wing three. The iconic shot drove the Auburn supporters into a frenzy and was the dagger to Michigan State’s chances of making it to the Final Four.
The Tigers defeated Michigan State 70-64 in the South Regional final to advance to the Final Four for the second time in the previous six years.
Bruce Pearl, who has done a fantastic job of making Auburn a basketball destination, led the Tigers to a 27-2 start and, for most of the season, the top spot in the FOX Sports Top 25. Auburn appeared to have been on the wrong side of what the NCAA Tournament can be at times, peaking in March, after going into the tournament with three losses in four games.
However, Auburn and Broome would not be defeated, dominated right away against the Spartans, the Big Ten regular-season champions whose season ended with one of Tom Izzo’s final coaching positions.
Following Auburn’s victory against Michigan on Friday, which included 52 points from Denver Jones and Tahaad Pettiford combined, Sunday was all about Broome. Just ten minutes into the game, the Tigers had a 23-8 advantage thanks to a 17-0 run in the first half that lasted five minutes. The Spartans tried to chip away, but the deficit proved to be too much in a game they led for just 22 seconds.
Pettiford contributed 10 points, while Broome finished with a game-high 25 points and 14 points. Jaden Akins and Jase Richardson struggled to establish a rhythm because of the Tigers’ defense, which limited them to 10-of-30 shooting from the field.
The highlight of the day, however, was Broome, who went from appearing to have an injury that would ruin his season to flying out of the tunnel to thunderous applause and propelling his program to the Final Four in San Antonio the following weekend.
