2015 SEC Tournament: Auburn, South Carolina Hoops Advance in First Round

The 2015 SEC Tournament got underway on Wednesday night, and the Auburn Tigers and South Carolina Gamecocks men’s basketball teams advanced out of the first round at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tn.

This is why they play the games, right?

The Auburn Tigers, who looked to be dead in the water as the season came to a close, took care of business in round one of the tournament and knocked off the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 74-68. The win snapped a 6-game losing streak for the Tigers.

More from Auburn Tigers

There was every reason in the world that Auburn should not have won this game, but Bruce Pearl is a tournament seasoned coach and an incredible motivator. It was obvious from the opening tip that Auburn was playing with intensity.

Auburn senior guard K.C. Ross-Miller — playing in his final SEC Tournament — led all scorers in the game with 21 points, adding seven rebounds and three steals to his stat line. His team-leading 33 minutes on the court helped lead the Tigers to their unlikely upset.

If Auburn has confidence and a little momentum, any other teams slated to face them should beware, because this can be a dangerous dark horse team if they start playing with emotion. They meet Texas A&M on Thursday in the second round.

Missouri played a tough game, and in the second half they looked like they might be able to catch and pass the Gamecocks, but the tough South Carolina defense and some poor shooting by the Tigers were too much to overcome.

South Carolina really just wore the Tigers down in this game. Up until about the 3:00 mark in the second half, the Tigers kept the Gamecock lead to single-digits, but then foul trouble and rubber legs took control and Carolina pulled away.

Michael Carrera really put the South Carolina team on his shoulders and made sure Mizzou didn’t find a way to win this game, but looking forward to the second round, the Gamecocks have to shoot better, particularly from behind the arc.

The Gamecocks, who won back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 30, will now move on to take on the Ole Miss Rebels in the second round.

More from Southbound and Down

Home/Auburn Tigers