Johni Broome, Auburn got out to a quick start in the Final Four but faltered as Florida gained ground.

For a brief stretch at the start of the Final Four matchup, it felt like Auburn was scripting a fairytale. Johni Broome was dominant. The Tigers were crisp, energized, and surgical, running up a quick double-digit lead over a Florida team that looked shell-shocked under the lights. But then, as if flipping a switch, everything changed. The Gators settled in, made adjustments, and slowly erased the deficit, eventually flipping the game entirely in their favor. The result? A stunning 78–70 win for Florida, ending Auburn’s season one game short of the national championship.

Johni Broome, the Tigers’ emotional leader and statistical cornerstone, finished the game with 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks. For long stretches of the first half, it looked like he would be the hero Auburn fans would talk about for generations. But even he couldn’t stop the tide as Florida seized momentum and never let go.

Auburn’s Electric Start

Auburn came out firing on all cylinders. The Tigers opened the game on a 14–2 run, forcing turnovers and attacking the rim with purpose. Broome was everywhere—posting up, drawing fouls, and dominating the glass. His presence in the paint forced Florida to alter its offensive rhythm early, as the Gators struggled to generate clean looks.

“We felt like we could punch first,” said Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl after the game. “And we did. The problem was, we didn’t have a second punch.”

The first 10 minutes of the game were the stuff of highlight reels for Auburn. Guard Tre Donaldson hit a pair of threes, Broome had a thunderous block that brought the crowd to its feet, and Auburn’s defense forced six turnovers in the opening stretch. Florida was rattled. Auburn looked destined for a spot in the national title game.

But then, the storm began to build.

Florida’s Steady Comeback

Todd Golden’s Gators didn’t panic. Instead, they turned to their veterans. Walter Clayton Jr. and Tyrese Samuel were pivotal in the turnaround, combining for 32 points and orchestrating a methodical comeback. The Gators closed the first half on a 20–9 run, cutting Auburn’s lead to just one at the break.

“We knew we had time,” said Clayton. “Basketball is a game of runs, and they got theirs early. We just had to stay the course.”

The second half was a different game. Florida looked poised and confident, moving the ball with purpose and attacking mismatches. Auburn, meanwhile, started to press. Shots that were falling in the first half clanged off the rim. Broome still battled—scoring 10 in the second half—but Florida’s defensive adjustments began to wear him down.

Double teams came faster. Help-side defense closed harder. Florida dared Auburn’s guards to beat them, and they couldn’t deliver. K.D. Johnson and Denver Jones, typically reliable perimeter threats, combined for just 4-of-17 from the field. That offensive stagnation spelled doom.

The Turning Point

With 6:43 left in the game, Florida took its first lead, 61–60, off a deep three by Riley Kugel. From that point on, they never trailed again. Auburn’s offense sputtered, scoring just 10 points in the final six-plus minutes. Florida, on the other hand, executed like a team built for the moment.

Perhaps the most telling sequence came with under three minutes remaining. Auburn, trailing by four, had a chance to cut the lead to one. Broome kicked the ball out to a wide-open Johni Wright in the corner. The shot rimmed out. Florida secured the rebound, and on the other end, Clayton buried a contested three to stretch the lead to seven. That shot, in many ways, was the dagger.

Broome’s Effort Not Enough

For Broome, the loss was especially bitter. The senior big man had been the heart and soul of this Auburn team all season. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.7 rebounds during the year, anchoring the Tigers on both ends of the floor. Against Florida, he did everything he could to extend the season one more game.

“He gave us everything he had,” said Pearl. “He left it all out there. I wish we could’ve done more for him.”

Broome didn’t speak to the media afterward, but his dejection was visible as he walked off the court. He paused at half court, looked up at the scoreboard, and shook his head. His college career—unless he surprises with a return—likely ended on that court.

What Went Wrong?

Auburn’s downfall can be attributed to a combination of factors—complacency after the hot start, lack of perimeter shooting, and an inability to respond to Florida’s in-game adjustments. The Tigers shot just 39% from the field and 25% from three-point range. Once Florida tightened the screws on defense, Auburn had no consistent secondary option to alleviate the pressure on Broome.

The loss also highlighted a lingering issue that had haunted the team throughout the season—when Broome isn’t completely dominant, who else steps up?

“We’ve leaned on Johni all year,” said Pearl. “But in games like this, it’s not just about your stars. It’s about everyone stepping up. Florida had more of that tonight.”

Florida’s Resilience

On the other side, credit must be given to Florida for its composure. The Gators didn’t flinch under pressure. They didn’t overreact to Auburn’s early surge. Instead, they trusted their system, leaned on their experience, and executed when it mattered most.

Golden’s coaching acumen was also on full display. His decision to switch to a zone midway through the second half slowed Auburn’s dribble penetration and disrupted their rhythm. Florida’s bench also played a key role, chipping in 18 points to Auburn’s 9.

“We’ve been through a lot this year,” said Golden. “We’ve lost tough games. We’ve been counted out. But this team believes. And tonight, they proved it.”

Looking Ahead for Auburn

The loss ends what was otherwise an excellent season for Auburn. The Tigers finished 28–8, won the SEC Tournament, and returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2019. Despite the heartbreak, there is a foundation to build on.

The question now becomes: What does the future hold?

Broome is likely gone. Several other key players are upperclassmen. Pearl may need to dip into the transfer portal to reload quickly. The good news? Auburn has momentum. The culture is strong. And Pearl has proven time and again that he can keep this program competitive at a national level.

“This isn’t the end,” Pearl said. “It’s a tough night, but we’ll be back.”

Final Thoughts

For Auburn, this Final Four loss will sting for a while—especially for Broome, whose brilliance deserved a better ending. But sometimes, basketball is cruel. One team starts hot. The other finishes stronger. And the margin between glory and heartbreak is often just a few missed shots and a couple of key plays.

Florida moves on. Auburn goes home.

But for 10 glorious minutes, Johni Broome and the Tigers looked like champions. And that’s a chapter in Auburn lore that won’t soon be forgotten.