No. 1 Auburn stayed perfect in SEC play and survived an upset bid on Saturday over No. 6 Tennessee with a 53-51 win at Neville Arena. Auburn star big man Johni Broome returned to the court after missing the last two games with an ankle injury and scored a game-high 16 points in his team’s seventh win over a ranked opponent this season.

Tennessee had an opportunity to win the game on the final possession, but star guard Zakai Zeigler missed a corner 3-pointer that would have put his team up with less than five seconds remaining. Broome secured the defensive rebound and tossed the ball beyond half court to run out the clock.

Tennessee was seeking its first win over a No. 1 ranked team on the road since defeating Memphis during the 2007-08 season. The Volunteers dropped to 6-16 all-time against the top-ranked team in the country.

CALL ‘EM MK🤙 pic.twitter.com/nT4FF21u1g — Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) January 26, 2025

The Volunteers finished just 4 of 22 from beyond the arc, while Auburn shot 3 of 22. Miles Kelly knocked down his second 3-pointer of the night with 30 seconds left to give his team the lead back for good.

Auburn’s Timely Shot-Making Was the Difference

Saturday’s game was a defensive slugfest. Kelly made a critical 3-pointer under high-pressure circumstances, further solidifying his impact since joining Auburn.

Auburn doesn’t win this game without him. His presence on defense makes Auburn a national title contender, especially as they look to dominate the SEC.

The SEC Gauntlet Is Real

Tennessee was the last unbeaten team in the sport less than three weeks ago. Since then, their record in conference play has slipped, but they still have the potential to contend for the SEC title.