LEXINGTON, Ky. — Both squads came out swinging. In a first half that featured 13 lead changes, the Tigers were able to endure nine first half 3-pointers by No. 9 seed Creighton. But a 20-4 second half run put Auburn out in front for good, sending Bruce Pearl and the Tigers to the Sweet 16 with a 82-70 victory.
“It feels amazing,” said point guard Tahaad Pettiford. “We all wanted to get to Atlanta. That’s like home for us. Now, we’ve just got to get back in the gym and get ready for next week.”
It’s Auburn’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend since the historic 2019 Final Four run and the program’s sixth Sweet 16 appearance.
“Thursday was the first NCAA win for a lot of our guys. We haven't been past the first weekend since 2019, when we got to the Final Four. Being the number 1 overall seed it would have been disappointing if we didn't do it again,” Pearl said.
Auburn also matched its program record of 30 wins in a single season, set during the 2018-19 season, with tonight’s win.
Led by Pettiford who collected his fifth 20-or-more point game of the season with 23, shooting 7-for-14, alongside Chad Baker-Mazara’s 17 points – 12 of which came in the second half.
“It means a lot. We just continue to make a run. Our goal is to win it all. So just getting to the Sweet 16 is another game for us,” Pettiford said.
As the Tigers head much closer home, looking for two wins in Atlanta to make a second ever trip to the coveted Final Four, Pearl’s squad will face a familiar foe in former point guard Tre Donaldson’s No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines.
“Man, shoutout Tre,” said point guard Denver Jones. “I’m really excited for the matchup going against a brother. Obviously bumping heads is gonna be a challenging night but we’re going to go out there, compete and have fun.”
The Big Ten Tournament champions knocked off No. 4 seed Texas A&M 91-79 in Denver with Roddy Gayle Jr. and Vladislav Goldin combining for 49 of the Wolverines’ 91 points in Michigan’s fifth straight win.
The tipoff time between the Wolverines and Tigers on Friday, March 28 inside of State Farm Arena in Atlanta will be determined at a later date.
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Patrick is a junior from Auburn, Alabama, double majoring in journalism and marketing. He started with The Plainsman in the fall of 2022.
You can follow him on X (Twitter) at @patrickabingham
