JOHNI Broome bundled 19 points with 14 rebounds and six assists as Auburn outdueled rival Alabama 94-85 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in the first-ever Southeastern Conference matchup between the Associated Press’ top two teams.
Denver Jones added 16 points for the top-ranked Tigers (23-2, 11-1 SEC), who withstood a second-half rally by the No. 2 Crimson Tide (21-4, 10-2) to seize sole possession of first place in the conference.
Mark Sears netted 18 points and Grant Nelson paired 12 points with 12 boards to lead Alabama, which went from trailing 59-45 with 13:43 left in the game to tying it twice with less than eight minutes to play.
But after Chris Youngblood’s trey leveled the game at 68, the Tigers scored the next seven points and never looked back.
In other games, it was No. 3 Florida 88, Carolina 67; No. 3 Duke 106; Stanford 70; No. 5 Tennessee 81, Vanderbilt 76; No. 6 Houston 62, No. 13 Arizona 58; No. 16 Wisconsin 94, No. 7 Purdue 84; No. 8 Texas A&M 69, Arkansas 61; No. 10 Iowa State 81, Cincinnati 70; No. 11 Michigan State 79, Illinois 65; No. 12 Texas Tech 93, Oklahoma State 55; Texas 82, No. 15 Kentucky 78; Utah 74, No. 17 Kansas State 67; No. 22 Mississippi State 81, No. 19 Ole Miss 71; No. 21 Missouri 87, Georgia 74; and No. 23 Clemson 72, Florida State 46.
No. 3 Florida 88, South Carolina 67
Denzel Aberdeen scored 13 of his career-high 22 points after halftime in Gainesville, Florida as the Gators pulled away for a victory over the Gamecocks, who remain winless in Southeastern Conference play.
After matching his career high of 20 at No. 22 Mississippi State, when he started in place of Alijah Martin, Aberdeen made 8 of 12 shots to help Florida (22-3, 9-3 SEC) earn its fourth straight win. Martin returned Saturday after missing two games due to a hip pointer and Aberdeen finished with his third career 20-point game.
South Carolina (10-15, 0-12) faded after a quick start. The Gamecocks made 12 of their first 17 shots and shot 44 percent (22 of 50) for the game. Jacobi Wright led South Carolina with 13 points, while Nick Pringle and Collin Murray-Boyles added 12 apiece.
No. 3 Duke 106, Stanford 70
I told myself that when I got drafted, that I wouldn’t come to the Rocky Steppes until I won the championship.
Tyrese Proctor scored 23 points and the Blue Devils ran away from the visiting Cardinal in Durham, North Carolina, for their second straight win after their 16-game winning streak was snapped.
Cooper Flagg chipped in with 19 points and six assists and KhamanMaluach racked up 17 points on 8-for-9 shooting for Duke (22-3, 14-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), which matched the most points scored under third-year coach Jon Scheyer.
Maxime Raynaud poured in 18 of his 19 points in the first half for Stanford (16-10, 8-7). Oziyah Sellers had 11 points and Donavin Young notched 10.
