Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Auburn Tigers Match Player Stats On Mar 06, 2021

Allen Flanigan scored 22 points to lead four Auburn double-figure scorers as the Tigers finished their season with a 78-71 victory at Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon.

Jaylin Williams added 18, Jamal Johnson scored 14 and JT Thor had 10 for the Tigers (13-14, 7-11 SEC), who gave coach Bruce Pearl his 600th career win but won't participate in the SEC tournament because of a self-imposed post-season ban.

Tolu Smith scored 20 points, D.J. Stewart Jr. added 19 and Iverson Molinar had 17 to lead the Bulldogs (14-13, 8-10).

MSU had allowed an average of 56.3 points over its last four games, which included three wins.

There were three lead changes and two ties in the first two minutes of the second half before MSU opened a 44-39 lead.

Thor made two free throws to give Auburn a 47-46 lead before five more ties ensued.

The Tigers finally took a two-possession lead when Williams scored three straight points and Flanigan added a 3-pointer for a 67-61 lead with four minutes remaining.

Stewart made a layup, but Smith missed two free throws.

Williams' layup and Flanigan's free throw increased the lead to 70-63 with 1:40 left.

Auburn set the tone for its offense by shooting 3-pointers for his first eight shots of the game. Flanigan and Thor made one each and Johnson made two as the Tigers jumped to a 12-6 lead.

MSU closed within two points on three occasions but couldn't pull even.

Devan Cambridge and Williams each made a 3-pointer to push Auburn's lead to 27-18 before the Bulldogs finished strong.

Stewart, Smith and Molinar combined to score all of the points during a 16-5 run to finish the half.

Molinar scored four, Smith scored five and Stewart had seven including a 3-pointer with one second left. That completed a 6-0 run and gave MSU a 34-32 lead, its only lead of the first half.

--Field Level Media