Auburn Rallies Past Michigan 78-65 to Reach Elite Eight/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Top-seeded Auburn stormed back in the second half to defeat Michigan 78-65 in the Sweet 16. Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones led the rally with 20 points each, sending the Tigers to their third-ever Elite Eight appearance, where they’ll face Michigan State.
Auburn vs. Michigan Sweet 16 Quick Looks
- Auburn wins 78-65 after trailing by 11 in second half
- Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones each score 20 points
- Auburn advances to Elite Eight for third time in program history
- Tigers outscore Michigan 39-17 over final 12.5 minutes
- Johni Broome dominates with 22 points and 16 rebounds
- Michigan’s season ends despite turnaround under coach Dusty May
- Auburn faces Michigan State next in South Region Final
- Auburn fans filled Atlanta’s State Farm Arena with hometown energy
- Michigan struggles offensively, shooting just 35.6% from the field
- Auburn secures a 48-33 rebounding advantage, including 19 offensive boards
Auburn Rallies Past Michigan 78-65 to Reach Elite Eight
Deep Look
Auburn Rallies to Defeat Michigan 78-65, Advances to Elite Eight
ATLANTA — With their NCAA Tournament dreams slipping away, Auburn’s backcourt came alive in the second half, powering the top-seeded Tigers past Michigan 78-65 on Friday night in the Sweet 16.
Freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford and senior Denver Jones each scored 20 points, igniting a furious rally that flipped a nine-point deficit into a commanding win. The Tigers (31-5) closed the game on a 39-17 run, securing their third Elite Eight appearance in school history and setting up a South Region final showdown with Michigan State on Sunday.
“Just the kids’ will to win,” said head coach Bruce Pearl. “Denver got heated up. Tahaad got heated up. We went to them, and they delivered.”
Turning Point
Trailing 49-38 midway through the second half, Auburn turned to Pettiford and Jones, who responded with clutch shooting and relentless energy. Pettiford hit a step-back three to jump-start the comeback, followed by back-to-back triples and a driving layup from Jones. The duo combined for multiple highlight plays, including a dazzling three-point play from Pettiford, who drilled a shot while falling backward after being fouled.
“I saw one go in, and I just saw the basket get bigger and bigger,” Jones said. “So I just kept shooting.”
Center Johni Broome was a force inside, tallying 22 points and 16 rebounds while battling against Michigan’s towering frontcourt of Danny Wolf and Vladislav Goldin.
“We took the game personal,” Broome said. “That’s a great front line, but we wanted to challenge ourselves to make it tough on them.”
Michigan’s Collapse
The Wolverines (27-10) appeared poised for another impressive win in a Cinderella season under first-year head coach Dusty May, especially after building their 11-point lead. But their offense went cold late, and defensive breakdowns allowed Auburn to surge ahead.
Danny Wolf led Michigan with 20 points, but no other Wolverine reached double digits outside of Goldin and Nimari Burnett, who scored 10 each. Michigan shot just 35.6% from the field and committed several costly turnovers during Auburn’s decisive run.
“They left a legacy,” May said. “They established an identity. They should be very, very proud of their body of work.”
Stat Sheet Highlights
Auburn shot only 32.4% in the first half and trailed by one at the break, but dominated the boards with a 48-33 rebounding advantage, including 19 offensive rebounds. The Tigers also doubled Michigan’s assist total, 15 to 6, reflecting their improved ball movement in the second half.
Despite the win, Pearl expressed concern about Auburn’s 15 turnovers.
“If Michigan can turn us over 15 times, Michigan State could turn us over 25 times,” Pearl said. “That’s a concern.”
Crowd Advantage
The game felt more like a home contest for Auburn, with orange-and-blue-clad fans packing State Farm Arena, just 110 miles from campus. The crowd’s energy clearly boosted the Tigers during their comeback run.
“It obviously helped to elevate their play,” Pearl added. “If you’re the overall No. 1 seed, you should be able to play close enough to home so the fans can see it.”
Michigan fans were outnumbered, and the atmosphere shifted heavily in Auburn’s favor as the game turned in the second half.
“Obviously in the second half, they hit a few shots and the crowd erupted,” said Wolf. “That was a huge momentum swing.”
What’s Next
Auburn now prepares for Michigan State, who edged Mississippi 73-70 earlier in the evening. The winner will earn a spot in the Final Four. Auburn last reached the Final Four in 2019 and is seeking a return under Pearl’s leadership.
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