Atlanta (AP) – Johni Broome held his injured right arm through most of the post -eight Elite of Auburn celebration.
This did not prevent the star from climbing a scale net He then wore around his neck.
Broome collected 25 points and 14 rebounds and Auburn took command with 17 points unanswered in the first half to beat the Michigan State 70-64 Sunday and finish a scan of serial n ° 1 passing in the Final Four.
“You are talking about delivering again to the greatest moments,” said Auburn coach Bruce Pearl about Broome.
Auburn (32-5) obtained its second final trip Four, while the state of Michigan (30-7) failed to send the coach Tom Izzo to his ninth national semi-final. Pearl also led Auburn to his only previous appearance Final Four in 2019.
The champion of the Southern Tigers region, the Global seeded of the NCAA tournament, has become the last of the heads n ° 1 to qualify for the last four – joining the Florida, Duke and Houston.
Auburn will face the Florida, which Beat Texas Tech 84-79 In the final of the West region, during a semi-final of the entirely-south-east conference on Saturday in San Antonio.
“Unfortunately, there will be only one SEC team that will play for the national championship,” said Pearl, also carrying a net around his neck.
Jaxon Kohler led the Spartans with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Jaden Akins had 15 points.
Brooma fell on his right arm While trying to block a shot with 10:37 to play and left the match. He was escorted in the locker room for a quick examination. Broome, the player of the year of the Associated Press dry and a selection of the entire first All-American team, seemed to injure his right elbow in the fall.
Broome returned with 5:29 to play, pulling an immediate ovation of fans of Auburn. He enveloped the elbow and sank a 3 points less than a minute later. He also caught a rebound with one hand.
“It was a scary moment,” said Broome. “I went down but my team had my back.”
Broome said that a team doctor said that “nothing serious” was bad with the elbow, which seemed to bend at a ugly angle during its fall.
“I bet it will be sore tomorrow,” said Pearl.
Broome made 10 of the 13 shots on the ground, including each of its two 3 points.
“This is why he is an All-American,” said Izzo. “This is why he is a player candidate of the year. I did a hell of a job. … We did most of the things we wanted to do except the Broome goalkeeper a little better.”
Auburn was the only Elite Eight team to win each of its first three games from March Madness two -digit, including its 78-65 Sweet 16 Victory on Michigan. The state of Michigan rallied for a 73-70 Victory On the Mississippi in Sweet 16.
The Spartans led 8-6 before the Tigers took command with the 17-0 race. The Spartans were detained aimlessly for 5:46 when it lacked 10 consecutive shots during the Auburn race.
A 3-point Broome pointer crowned the race for an advance of 23-8.
Auburn led 33-24 at halftime. The Spartans drew less than five points at 35-30 at the start of the second half, but did not get closer.
Top Seeds – and selection committee – shine
This is the first time that all the best seeds have reached the Final Four since 2008, which has been the only year previous year of all semi-finalists No. 1 since the start of the seeding in 1979. And the top teams went 12-0 in the semi-finals and regional final for the first time since the tournament developed in 1985.
“This means that people who criticize … The selection committee must have done a good job,” said Izzo.
Adding Pearl: “I think the four teams that have advanced are the best four teams in the country and that does not always happen.”
Pride of the Spartans
Izzo, who won the 2000 national championship and participated in his 27th consecutive NCAA tournament with the state of Michigan, said that he was proud of “connectivity and camaraderie of his players”.
“For the 30th year (as a coach), I don’t know if I have already been proud of a team,” said Izzo, 70. “It was a cloakroom that has tears because they knew they spread everything and yet we started badly. … We just couldn’t get back from this 17-0 race.”
Take -out
Michigan State: Coen Carr, who received his First career beginning Against Ole Miss, was back in alignment against tigers. The attacker, originally from Stockbridge near Atlanta, obtained a sign of the head after having scored 15 points against the rebels, while the center of 7 feet Szymon Zapala, normally a departure, returned in a reserve role against Auburn after not playing against Ole Miss. Carr scored four points against Auburn while Zapala had two points in 14 minutes.
Auburn: Miles Kelly scored three goals on the field during the 17-0 race. After having made consecutive riders to start the race, Kelly added a flight and a pointer to 3. He finished with eight points. Tahaad Pettiford scored 10.
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