Auburn Defeats Creighton 82-70, Advances to Sweet 16

The top-seeded Auburn Tigers defeated the ninth-seeded Creighton Bluejays 82-70 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, securing a spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2019. After trailing at halftime, Auburn responded with a strong second half, highlighted by a 10-0 run that included 16 points from freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford, who finished with 23 points overall. Auburn's defense tightened, holding Creighton scoreless for over six minutes during critical moments of the game. Creighton, led by Ryan Kalkbrenner's 18 points, struggled to maintain momentum after a solid first half where they shot 64% from three-point range. The victory sets Auburn up to face No. 5 seed Michigan in the South Region semifinals next weekend, as the Tigers aim for their first national title. Auburn's coach Bruce Pearl expressed the significance of this win after last year's early exit from the tournament.