Auburn basketball advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 after defeating Creighton in March Madness.
OMAHA, Neb. — March is about surviving and advancing, and Auburn basketball did just that in a game that will be etched into the program’s growing legacy of postseason success. The No. 4 seed Tigers secured a hard-fought 72-68 victory over No. 5 seed Creighton on Sunday night, punching their ticket to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since their historic Final Four run in 2019.
It was a gritty, physical battle between two of the nation’s most resilient squads, but in the end, Bruce Pearl’s Auburn team found a way, fueled by clutch performances from veterans Johni Broome and K.D. Johnson, and a defensive effort that stifled Creighton when it mattered most.
A Familiar Stage, a New Chapter
For Pearl, this Sweet 16 appearance is another significant milestone in what has been a transformative tenure at Auburn. When he took the reins of the program in 2014, Auburn was far removed from national relevance. Now, under his leadership, the Tigers are postseason regulars and once again a threat deep into March.
“This group has been special all season,” Pearl said after the win. “We’ve faced adversity, we’ve battled in the toughest league in America, and now we’re back where Auburn belongs — playing in the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament.”
The Game: A Tug-of-War Battle
The matchup against Creighton lived up to its billing, with both teams trading runs and momentum swings across 40 tense minutes. Creighton, led by the sharpshooting trio of Baylor Scheierman, Ryan Kalkbrenner, and Trey Alexander, came into the contest boasting one of the nation’s most efficient offenses. Auburn countered with its trademark suffocating defense and interior physicality.
“We knew this was going to be a war,” said Broome, who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds. “Creighton’s a great team. They shoot it well, but we wanted to impose our will inside and make it tough for them to get easy looks.”
Early in the game, Auburn’s defensive intensity set the tone, holding Creighton to just 34% shooting in the opening half. However, the Bluejays found their rhythm in the second half, with Scheierman connecting on back-to-back threes to pull Creighton within striking distance.
But every time Creighton surged, Auburn responded.
“We’ve been in close games all season,” Johnson said. “We don’t panic. Coach always tells us to stay connected, stay locked in, and that’s what we did tonight.”
Clutch Plays Down the Stretch
With the score tied at 63-63 entering the final three minutes, it was Auburn’s veterans who stepped up in the game’s biggest moments. Broome muscled his way to a critical offensive rebound and put-back to give the Tigers a two-point lead. Moments later, Johnson — the heartbeat of Auburn’s backcourt — hit a pull-up jumper from the elbow to stretch the lead to four.
Defensively, Auburn clamped down on Creighton’s perimeter shooters, forcing contested jumpers and securing crucial rebounds.
“We locked in,” Pearl said. “The guys executed the game plan perfectly. We wanted to make them uncomfortable late, and our guys showed tremendous toughness.”
With 15 seconds left, Creighton had one final opportunity to tie the game, but a tipped pass by Tre Donaldson disrupted the Bluejays’ final possession, leading to a pair of game-sealing free throws from Johnson.
When the final horn sounded, Auburn players erupted in celebration, knowing they were headed back to the Sweet 16 — a goal they had set last summer during grueling offseason workouts.
Broome and Johnson Lead the Way
Broome’s double-double performance was emblematic of the Tigers’ commitment to dominating the paint. The junior forward controlled the boards and drew multiple fouls on Creighton’s frontcourt, getting Kalkbrenner into foul trouble early in the second half.
“He’s a monster in there,” Pearl said of Broome. “He anchors everything for us. His rebounding, his presence — it’s huge.”
Johnson added 17 points, five assists, and two steals, once again demonstrating his knack for taking over late in games.
“K.D. is fearless,” Broome said. “We feed off his energy. When he’s in attack mode, we’re hard to beat.”
Tre Donaldson also provided a steady hand, running the offense and making smart decisions against Creighton’s pressure defense.
Defense Travels
Throughout the season, Auburn has been defined by its defensive identity. Ranked among the top defensive teams in the country in opponent field-goal percentage and points allowed per game, the Tigers leaned heavily on that identity against Creighton.
“We knew we had to guard the three-point line,” Pearl said. “They shoot it as well as anybody in the country, but our guys chased them off the line and fought through screens.”
Creighton finished the game shooting just 29% from deep and was held to one of its lowest scoring totals of the season.
“That’s who we are,” Johnson added. “We defend. That’s our culture.”
Pearl’s Blueprint Continues to Pay Off
Pearl’s blueprint for Auburn basketball has always centered on toughness, versatility, and playing for one another. That culture was on full display against Creighton and has been a hallmark of the Tigers’ return to national prominence.
“We love playing for Coach,” Donaldson said. “He pushes us, but he cares about us. He’s built this program into a family.”
Pearl, who led Auburn to its first-ever Final Four in 2019, now has his sights set on another deep tournament run.
“We’re not done,” Pearl said, grinning. “We’ll enjoy this tonight, but we’re back to work tomorrow.”
Sweet 16 Matchup Awaits
Next up for Auburn is a highly anticipated Sweet 16 clash against the No. 1 seed — a team widely viewed as a title contender. While the Tigers may enter as underdogs, Pearl is embracing the challenge.
“That’s March,” Pearl said. “You have to go through the best to be the best. We’re looking forward to it.”
Auburn’s players echoed their coach’s excitement, noting that the underdog role suits them.
“We like being counted out,” Broome said. “It fuels us.”
The Legacy of the 2024 Tigers
With the victory, Auburn’s 2024 team has cemented its place in program history. Not only have they returned to the Sweet 16, but they’ve also added another chapter to a remarkable era for Auburn basketball.
Since Pearl’s arrival, Auburn has consistently competed in March and turned a once-overlooked SEC program into a national contender.
“It’s bigger than just us,” Johnson said. “We’re playing for all the teams that came before us — for the fans, the community, everyone who believed in Auburn basketball.”
Auburn Fans Celebrate
Back in Auburn and across social media, Tiger fans erupted in celebration as the final seconds ticked away. Bars, campus watch parties, and households filled with orange and blue faithful celebrated a victory years in the making.
“To see this team fight and win like that — it’s special,” said Auburn alumnus Mark Holloway, who was watching from Toomer’s Corner. “It reminds me of the 2019 run.”
Pearl acknowledged the fans’ role in the Tigers’ success, noting the overwhelming support Auburn has received throughout the tournament.
“Our fans are the best,” Pearl said. “They travel, they support us, and they make a difference. We’re taking them with us to the Sweet 16.”
Final Thoughts: Auburn is Peaking at the Right Time
With Broome dominating inside, Johnson leading the backcourt, and a defense that can rattle any offense in the country, Auburn is hitting its stride at the perfect time.
“We’re playing our best basketball right now,” Pearl said. “We’ve got confidence, we’ve got chemistry, and we’ve got heart.”
The Tigers now find themselves just two wins away from another Final Four, with a team that looks poised to make noise against even the tournament’s top seeds.
For now, though, the Tigers will savor the win, knowing they’ve already made history — and are hungry to make even more.
“We’re not satisfied,” Broome said. “We’ve got more to prove.”
Would you like me to also create a sidebar breaking down key stats or a player feature on Broome or Johnson?
