Broome's second half surge propels No. 1 Auburn to win at LSU

After a shaky first half performance, Johni Broome’s second half surge wills No.1 Auburn past LSU to remain undefeated in conference play and secure a tie for the program's best 20-game start to the season with a 19-1 record.

Broome came out of the tunnel slowly, shooting 3-for-13 in the first half with a pair of turnovers. While Miles Kelly and Chad Baker-Mazara provided Auburn with a 12 point lead at the half, the Tigers were in need of their star as LSU continued to close the scoring gap and make their way back into the game.

Broome’s performance truly was a tale of two halves, as he exploded after the break, scoring 20 points in the second half and pairing that with 7 rebounds. 

When asked about Broome’s performance down the stretch in the second half, Coach Bruce Pearl replied, “Johni was dominant again, just dominant.” 

Despite Pearl’s high praise for Broome in crunch time, Pearl commended LSU’s early defense on his star big man, crediting them for Broome’s 23% shooting in the first half. 

“They did a good job early… they’re really athletic, they’re really quick, they’re really explosive,” said Pearl.

While Broome’s 26-point performance was a critical factor in Auburn’s victory, his 11 offensive rebounds could be credited as the difference maker in this matchup. As Broome averages 10.9 rebounds per game, he cleared his season average on one side of the ball, allowing second chance opportunities for players like Tahaad Pettiford and Denver Jones to take advantage of. 

Broome collected his 11th 20-point performance against the Bayou Bengals as well as his 11th double-double of the season in the road Tigers' 12th quad-one win of the season.

Auburn turns its focus to No. 23 Ole Miss as the Tigers continue their roadtrip in Oxford, MS on Saturday, Feb. 1.