Auburn crowned SEC champions, flushes Florida in title game

Field Level Media|published: Sun 17th March, 16:00 2024

Mar 17, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Auburn Tigers forward Johni Broome (4) blocks Florida Gators guard Zyon Pullin (0) in the first half in the SEC Tournament championship game at Bridgestone Arena. credits: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn claimed its third SEC tournament title with an 86-67 win over Florida to cap a dominant three-day run through the bracket on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.

The Tigers (27-7) were led by center Johni Broome with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and three blocks, while also spearheading a suffocating defensive effort that put Auburn in line for a prestigious spot in the NCAA Tournament hours before brackets were revealed on Selection Sunday.

Broome was named SEC tournament MVP with 47 points, 24 rebounds and six blocks in three games at Nashville.

The win was Auburn's sixth in a row since losing 92-84 at Tennessee on Feb. 28.

Florida lost center Micah Handlogten to an injury late in the first half. The program confirmed postgame Handlogten suffered a broken lower left leg just over two minutes into the game when the 7-foot-1 center went up to grab an offensive rebound and landed hard on his leg.

Florida was 1 of 13 from 3-point range and shot 36.4 from the field.

Senior guard Zyon Pullin led the Gators with 15 points and seven rebounds and Walter Clayton Jr. added 13 points and four rebounds.

—Field Level Media