Auburn’s explosive 39-17 run topples Michigan basketball, sending Tigers to Elite 8

ATLANTA – The No. 5 seed Michigan Wolverines have been eliminated by the No. 1 seed Auburn Tigers 78-65, snapping their five-game winning streak in the process.

The Wolverines led 48-39 with 12:26 to play and let go of the proverbial rope as Auburn went on a 39-17 run to take over the game, ending Michigan’s magical run.

1st

The Wolverines outplayed Auburn in the first half but trailed 30-29 as both teams played sloppily.

Turnovers aren’t anything new for Michigan, as that’s how they played this season, but they gave the ball up on eight nonsensical plays.

It’s like just tossing the ball for an ordinary pass was turned over, or an entry pass got ripped away while attacking the rim.

Michigan took a 27-23 lead, which seemed to quiet the rowdy SEC crowd, but they continued to give the ball away.

The only thing keeping them from running away with the score was the turnovers, but the Tigers turned the ball over 10 times in the first half, as they, too, were sloppy.

On a bright side for the Wolverines was the fact that Danny Wolf was aggressive as he finished the half with 11 points which led both teams.

He even went baseline and dunked to get the Maize Rage into the game.

But Johni Broome went score for score with him as he finished with 10 points while picking up two fouls.

Denver Jones scored seven points to help his Tigers keep the game close early, while point guard Tahaad Pettiford added five points in the first half.

Michigan guards Tre Donaldson and Nimari Burnett each scored five points, while Rubin Jones went to the charity stripe for four points.

Vladislav Goldin had some golden opportunities at the rim but he either turned the ball over or missed some contested shots at the rim. He also went to the foul line and missed two free throws to finish the half with two points.

Roddy Gayle Jr., who was the hero in the Round of 32, had two points in the first half as well, while L.J. Cason and Will Tschetter finished with zero.

Both sides are lucky to be in the game at this point, but after the break, they’d probably come out more aggressive in this SEC football style atmosphere as the Auburn fans are chomping at the bit for their chance to erupt.

This game looks to be coming down to coaching by Dusty May and Bruce Pearl.

2nd half

The Wolverines opened the second half with the ball, but Burnett missed a layup, leading to a three-on-one fast break by Auburn, who turned the ball over for the 11th time of the game.

Wolf hit a three-pointer to help the Wolverines take a 32-30 lead, but he turned the ball over on the next possession.

Michigan’s ninth turnover of the game led to a Broome bunny, which tied the game at 32-32.

Burnett got fouled on the next play, splitting the free throws to take a 33-32 lead.

Michigan got a steal, which led to a Burnett layup to go up three.

Goldin seems to be bothered by the Auburn big men as he turns the ball over again.

Broome countered with a jumper to pull the game to 35-34 before Goldin was fouled while getting an offensive rebound with 15:47 to play.

At this point in the game, Auburn has 12 turnovers, while Michigan has 11. Goldin steps to the line to shoot two free throws. He makes both to take a three-point lead.

Broome went back at Goldin and made a contested layup to cut into the 37-36 deficit.

Wolf counters with a contested layup to go back up three before a Gayle Jr. and-one pushed the lead up to six with 14:36 to play.

In the blink of an eye, Goldin picks up his first foul of the game as Broome scored as he got fouled to make his on-and-one.

Broome turns the ball over as the Tigers crowd grows frustrated.

Wolf didn’t help matters as he got a put back off of a Gayle Jr. missed layup.

The Maize Rage starts chanting his name, and he acknowledges them.

Feeling the momentum, Wolf takes Broome to the rack for a tough layup to take a 46-39 lead.

Wolf had 20 points at this point before Broome turned the ball over, leading to a Tschetter foul. He made both to take a nine-point lead with 12:30 to play.

Pettiford pumps up the crowd after knocking down a three-pointer before Tschetter turns the ball over to the amazement of the Tigers’ fans as they try to cheer their team back into the game.

Denver Jones makes another three-pointer as the Tigers mount a 6-0 run.

Broome adds to the run with a contested layup, extending the run to 8-0, as they trail by one.

“Let’s go Auburn,” chants ring out as the Tigers pull back to within one.

Pettiford pushes the run to 10-0 after making a jumper to retake the lead with 9:53 to play.

Both teams are continuing their sloppy play as Auburn has 15 turnovers while Michigan has 13 in this 49-48 game with under 10 minutes to play.

With momentum shifted, Michigan gets called for a three-second violation.

Rubin Jones picks up his third foul, sending Chad Baker-Mazara to the line where he makes both free throws to push the run to 12-0, before Rubin Jones makes a contested layup to stop the bleeding.

But it was temporary as Denver Jones made a three-pointer to continue this scoring run of 15-2, taking a 54-50 lead.

Denver Jones pushed it to 18-2 with another three-pointer to take a 57-50 lead with 7:38 to play.

The Wolverines are in trouble as the No. 1 seed Tigers are rolling, as their fans have taken over the stadium and the game.

Denver Jones makes a layup to extend the run to 20-2, taking a 59-50 lead.

Goldin, sensing the game slipping out of their grasp, makes a much-needed and-one to cut the lead to 59-53 with 6:51 to play.

The run is now 22-5 as Pettiford drives to the rim for an uncontested layup.

Goldin is fouled with 5:59 to play. He steps to the line and splits them, cutting the lead to seven.

Pettiford drains a shot clock three-pointer to push the run to 25-6 while Auburn takes a 10-point lead with 5:10 to play.

Pettiford pushes the run to 28-6 after making an and-one, taking a 67-54 lead with 4:22 to play.

Goldin is fouled and sent to the line, making both free throws, cutting the deficit to 11.

Chaney Johnson makes a dunk on an inbounds pass, and Michigan looks deflated as the run extends to 30-8 and counting as Broome is fouled with 2:03 to play.

He split the pair to go up 14 with 1:55 to play as the Michigan State Spartans fans, still in attendance, and the Auburn fans are celebrating ahead of their matchup on Sunday.

L.J. Cason is fouled and makes two free throws. Then Gayle Jr. is fouled and makes two more to cut the lead to 10 with 1:12 to play.

Auburn finished the game on a 38-18 run and advanced to the Elite 8 where they will play Michigan State on Sunday.

Wolf finished the game with 20 points, Goldin finished with 10, Gayle Jr. finished with seven points, Rubin Jones finished with six, Cason and Donaldson each scored five, and Tschetter scored two points in the devastating loss.