If you were watching the South Region final back in March, you saw something that felt like a heavyweight title fight. The Michigan State vs Auburn score of 70-64 might look like a typical, grind-it-out defensive struggle on paper, but if you actually sat through those forty minutes at State Farm Arena, you know it was anything but "typical." It was a game defined by a brutal 17-0 run, an elbow injury that nearly derailed a season, and Tom Izzo finally meeting his match in an SEC opponent during the Big Dance.
Honestly, it’s rare to see a 2-seed like Michigan State look so dominant early on, only to be completely frozen out for nearly six minutes of game time.
📖 Related: Did Florida Win March Madness: The Real Story Behind the Gators Basketball Legacy
Breaking Down the 70-64 Scoreline
The final tally doesn't quite capture how much momentum swung back and forth. Auburn, the 1-seed, wasn't just playing for a win; they were playing for their second-ever Final Four berth. They got it, but they had to bleed for it.
Here is the raw breakdown of how that 70-64 Michigan State vs Auburn score actually happened:
- Halftime Score: Auburn 33, Michigan State 24
- The Big Run: An 17-0 explosion by the Tigers in the first half.
- Total Rebounds: MSU actually won this battle 41 to 39, yet still lost the game.
- Field Goal Percentage: Auburn shot 42.6% while the Spartans struggled at 34.4%.
You've got to look at Johni Broome. The guy was a man possessed. He finished with 25 points and 14 rebounds, which is impressive enough, but he did most of that while dealing with a scary-looking elbow injury. When he went down with about ten minutes left in the second half, the vibe in the arena shifted. It felt like Michigan State was about to pounce. Jaxon Kohler was keeping the Spartans alive with 17 points and 11 boards of his own. But then Broome came back with his arm wrapped up, immediately drained a three, and basically slammed the door shut.
Why the Spartans Couldn't Close the Gap
The Michigan State vs Auburn score stayed close in the second half because the Spartans are, well, Spartans. They defend the three-point line like their lives depend on it. Auburn only shot 28% from deep. Normally, if you hold a Bruce Pearl team to under 30% from three, you’re winning that game.
But Michigan State couldn't throw a pebble into the ocean for a large stretch of the first half. Missing 10 straight shots against a team as athletic as Auburn is basically a death sentence. You can't give Denver Jones or Tahaad Pettiford that much breathing room.
Historical Context: Izzo vs the SEC
This game was a bit of a historical anomaly. Before this matchup, Tom Izzo was 10-0 in the NCAA Tournament against SEC teams. That’s a wild stat. He’s spent decades bullied the South in March. But Bruce Pearl finally broke the curse.
It wasn't just about the 70-64 score; it was about the style of play. Usually, Big Ten teams try to slow the game down and make it a rock fight. Auburn accepted the rock fight but added a level of verticality and speed that MSU just couldn't match. Seeing the Spartans finish with a 30-7 record is nothing to sneeze at, but for fans in East Lansing, this one stung because it felt like the path to a ninth Final Four for Izzo was right there.
Key Individual Performances
If you’re looking at the box score to understand why the game ended the way it did, focus on these numbers:
💡 You might also like: Canada women's national hockey team: Why the 2026 Roster is Different
- Johni Broome (Auburn): 25 points, 14 rebounds, 10-of-13 from the floor. He was the first player since 1984 to put up those kinds of numbers in an Elite Eight game.
- Jaxon Kohler (MSU): 17 points and 11 rebounds. He was the primary reason the Spartans stayed within shouting distance.
- Jaden Akins (MSU): 15 points, but he struggled with efficiency, going 6-of-17 from the field.
- Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn): 10 points. The freshman didn't blink under the bright lights, which is exactly what Pearl needed.
What Happens Next for These Programs?
Moving forward, this game has set a new tone for the Michigan State vs Auburn "rivalry," if you want to call it that. They don't play often—this was actually their first-ever meeting in basketball—but the intensity felt like they’d been playing for a hundred years.
Auburn moved on to face Florida in an all-SEC Final Four matchup, a testament to how deep that conference has become. Meanwhile, Michigan State heads back to the drawing board. They lose some veteran presence but the way guys like Kohler stepped up suggests they aren't going anywhere.
📖 Related: LA Clippers vs Detroit: Why These Two Teams Keep Having Such Weird Games
If you're a bettor or a hardcore fan tracking the Michigan State vs Auburn score for future matchups, keep an eye on the recruiting trails. Pearl is raiding the North more often, and Izzo is starting to look for more athletic wings to counter the speed of teams like the Tigers.
To keep up with the latest updates on these teams as they head into the next season:
- Check the official NCAA transfer portal trackers to see how MSU replaces its departing seniors.
- Follow SEC and Big Ten conference scheduling announcements for potential regular-season rematches in the 2026-27 season.
- Monitor Johni Broome’s recovery and NBA draft stock, as his performance in this specific game significantly boosted his standing with scouts.