Tennessee Defeats Auburn to Advance to SEC Tournament Final
The Volunteers secured a 70-65 victory over the Tigers, setting up a championship clash with either Florida or Alabama.
- Tennessee, ranked No. 8, overcame No. 3 Auburn in a tightly contested semifinal game featuring 18 lead changes and eight ties.
- Zakai Zeigler led Tennessee with 20 points, including a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line, while Jordan Gainey and Chaz Lanier added 15 and 12 points, respectively.
- Auburn's Johni Broome, the SEC Player of the Year, scored 23 points but struggled at the free-throw line, going 5-for-12 as the Tigers lost their third game in four outings.
- The Volunteers capitalized on free throws, shooting 25-of-27 compared to Auburn's 13-of-22, which proved pivotal in the game's closing moments.
- Tennessee will face the winner of the Florida-Alabama semifinal on Sunday, with both teams vying for a potential No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.