Miles Kelly 30 seconds before the end he hit the firm three and John Broome He had 16 points and 13 rebounds, returning to the composition as number 1 Chestnut He extended his streak of victory to 11 games, staying in 6th place Tennessee 53-51 On Saturday evening.
Auburn (18-1, 6-0 SEC) obtained the lowest result in the season due to the physical defense of Tennessee. After a shot, Kelly turned a two -point deficit into a one -point advantage after Broome’s shot.
Tennessee had a chance to recover the lead in the last seconds, but he lacked three points Zeigler Zakii He missed the sign.
Broome, measuring 6 feet 10 feet and weighing 240 pounds five-year senior and pre-season Associated Press All-American, returned to the game for the first time since he suffered a match during the match, as the tiger coach Bruce Pearl, “significant twist” of the left ankle. victory in South Carolina January 11. The attacker collected key defects in the last two possessions of the Tennessee team.
“I just want to thank my trainers, doctors and John Broome for spending two weeks in the training room. I didn’t think he would come back tonight in the middle of the week. And even here the day before I knew he wanted to leave, “Pearl said after the victory. “I didn’t think it would be effective. Tonight he scored a triple-double: 16 points, 13 rebounds and missed 12 shots.
“But I think that the band really respected their leader for putting it at the scales and I don’t know if we’ll win if he doesn’t come back.”
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes did not risk. He prepared his volunteers for a meeting with Broome, although it finally did not stop him.
“We had no doubts [Broome] He was going to play, “said Barnes. “We knew he would play. That is why we were preparing for his presence throughout the week. “
Zeigler had 14 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and led Volunteers (17-3, 4-3). Lanier’s cheese He added 10 points, including a few throws for three points in the second half.
Both teams hit less than 32% of the defensive game.
“The last thing is that we won four matches with the last possession of the ball, four out of the last six,” said Pearl. “We won 20 wins with a two -digit win last year. Regardless of whether this team is better or not or anyone we are, this league is better. That is why it will be a battle every evening. But we are satisfied with this match because it’s a great band. “
Auburn will play at LSU on Wednesday. Tennessee will want to make up for the losses when he is host No. 9 Kentucky On Tuesday.
“I thought they fought all night,” Barnes said about his volunteers. “For a few minutes we did not quite stick to the details and gave them a few baskets that we would not like to give them.”
The Associated Press contributed to the creation of this report.
