Auburn keeps NCAA tournament hopes alive with win over Mississippi State

March 11, 2026 – NASHVILLE, Ten - Auburn kept its postseason hopes alive with a much needed first round Southeastern Conference playoff win over Mississippi State 79 to 61.

A loss would likely have ended any hope for the Tigers to make the field of 68 teams in the NCAA tournament field. The win, combined with Texas's loss, puts the Tigers on the bubble. A win over Tennessee on Thursday will likely secure the Tigers a place in the field.

Coach Steven Pearl's first year as head coach have had a lot of ups and downs, but all of the struggles will be forgotten if the Tigers can go on an NCAA tournament run.

Auburn's current record for the 2025–26 men's basketball season is 17–15 overall with a 7–11 mark in SEC play. The Tigers do have a number of impressive wins including one over Florida.

Auburn's win over Mississippi State, a performance looked nothing like the February version of this team.

Auburn's Most Complete Performance in Weeks

Auburn entered the SEC Tournament needing not just a win, but a convincing one, and they delivered exactly that. The Tigers controlled the game on both ends, showing sharper execution, cleaner defense, and the kind of urgency that had been missing during their late‑season slide. Mississippi State, which had beaten Auburn 91–85 in Starkville behind a 46‑point explosion from Josh Hubbard, never found that same rhythm in the rematch.

Standout Performances

- Kevin Overton led Auburn with 22 points, playing with the assertiveness and leadership the Tigers have leaned on all season.

- KeShawn Murphy added 15 points and nine rebounds, coming within one board of a double‑double and setting the tone physically inside.

Both players were described as emotionally locked in, vocal, and steadying forces-qualities Auburn desperately needed after weeks of inconsistency. Their combined energy repeatedly halted Mississippi State's attempts to claw back into the game.

Defensive Turnaround

Auburn's defense, which had been heavily criticized down the stretch, delivered one of its best efforts of the year.

- The Tigers held Mississippi State to 61 points on 39% shooting.

- Josh Hubbard, who torched Auburn for 46 in the regular season, was limited to 22 points-still strong, but nowhere near the game‑breaking performance Auburn feared.

- Auburn forced 11 turnovers, converting them into 14 points, a key factor in maintaining control throughout the second half.

This was the disciplined, connected defensive unit Auburn fans expected earlier in the season, and it arrived at the perfect time.

Auburn looked like a team that woke up after 6 weeks of sleepwalking through the second half of the SEC season.

If Overton and Murphy continue to lead with this level of intensity, Auburn becomes a far more dangerous opponent than its seeding suggests.

The Auburn–Tennessee SEC Tournament game is set for Thursday, March 12 at 2:00 p.m. CT at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.