Johni Broome's double-double lifts No. 3 Auburn over Ole Miss 62-57 at SEC Tournament

Johni Broome’s double-double lifts No. 3 Auburn over Ole Miss 62-57 at SEC Tournament

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Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) grabs a rebound against the Mississippi during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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Auburn forward Chaney Johnson (31) and Mississippi forward Jaemyn Brakefield battle for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Auburn forward Chaney Johnson (31) and Mississippi guard Jaylen Murray (5) wrestle for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) chases a loose ball with Mississippi forward Jaemyn Brakefield (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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Mississippi guard Davon Barnes (7) and Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford (0) chase a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Auburn center Dylan Cardwell (44) looks to pass against Mississippi forward Jaemyn Brakefield (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl speaks during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against the Mississippi in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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Auburn guard Chad Baker-Mazara (10) and Mississippi guard Davon Barnes (7) chase a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

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Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) drives against Mississippi guard Matthew Murrell (11) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)

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Mississippi forward Malik Dia (0) and Auburn forward Johni Broome (4) work for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, Friday, March 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

By TERESA M. WALKER

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Johni Broome scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as regular-season champion Auburn opened its bid to repeat at the Southeastern Conference Tournament by holding off eighth-seeded Mississippi 62-57 Friday.

The third-ranked Tigers (28-4) will play No. 8 Tennessee, an 83-72 winner over 13th-seeded Texas, in the semifinals Saturday.

Denver Jones also had 13 points as Auburn snapped a two-game skid.

Ole Miss (21-11) has lost two of its last three to top-five teams. Dre Davis and Sean Pedulla each had 12 points, and Malik Dia and Jaylen Murray 10 apiece.

The Tigers showed some rust after being off since losing to Alabama in overtime last week. They led 29-22 at halftime but never were up more than 10.

Takeaways

Ole Miss: The Rebels now are 4-2 on a neutral site against Auburn and 2-2 at this tournament. They dropped to 1-4 in the quarterfinals and last reached the semifinals in 2013.

Auburn: The Tigers have won this tournament three times, twice under coach Bruce Pearl. They also won this event in 2019 under Pearl and in 1985. They’ve won three league regular-season titles as well and their two tourney titles leads the SEC for most overall men’s championships since 2018.

Not PARSE.LY: College basketball

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Memphis guard PJ Haggerty (4) shoots over Wichita State guard Harlond Beverly (20) and center Quincy Ballard (15) during the second half in the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament in Fort Worth, Texas, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

PJ Haggerty scores 42 for Memphis after coach Penny Hardaway told standout guard he had to produce

Key moment

Tied at 46 after a layup by Pedulla, Auburn went on an 11-1 run. Johnson’s 3-pointer put the Tigers ahead to stay with 6:05 to go. Broome scored the next five, and Jones had a three-point play as Auburn went up 57-47.

Key stat

Up 60-57 with the clock ticking, Auburn went to Broome inside for a short jumper with 11.1 seconds left to seal the win as the Tigers hit six of their final eight shots.

Up next

Auburn won at Texas during the regular season and beat Tennessee by two on Jan. 25 on the Tigers’ home court. Ole Miss heads home to learn its NCAA Tournament destination.

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