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Auburn Aims for NCAA Berth Against No. 25 Tennessee
12 Mar
Summary
- Auburn rallied to beat Mississippi State 79-61 in their tournament opener.
- Tennessee hopes for Nate Ament's return from a leg injury.
- Both teams are strong offensive rebounding clubs.

The 12th-seeded Auburn Tigers (17-15) are set to play No. 25 Tennessee in the SEC tournament's second round on Thursday afternoon. Auburn advanced by defeating Mississippi State 79-61, limiting their opponent to the fewest points Auburn has allowed to an SEC foe this season. Coach Steven Pearl praised his team's defensive effort.
Tennessee (21-10), the tournament's fifth seed, anticipates the return of Nate Ament, who has been sidelined with a leg injury. Ament leads the Volunteers in rebounds and is second in scoring. His potential presence could bolster a team that struggled offensively in its recent regular-season finale.
Both Auburn and Tennessee are recognized among the nation's top offensive rebounding teams. The Volunteers lead the country in this category, while Auburn ranks 17th. Their previous regular-season meeting on January 31st saw Tennessee secure a 77-69 home victory.



