FLORIDA 66, ARKANSAS 50

The Florida Gators tipped off SEC Tournament play on Thursday with a 66-50 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks. Keyontae Johnson went for 20 points in the victory over the Hogs, a win that may have put them on the right side of the NCAA Tournament bubble. KeVaughn Allen was the other Florida scorer to hit double figures, as Allen scored 17 points, three behind Johnson’s efforts. Daniel Gafford scored 15 while Isaiah Joe gave the Hogs 12 points, but everyone else was pretty much stymied by the Gators’ stingy defense. Florida will now play the 1-seeded LSU Tigers on Friday.

AUBURN 81, MIZZOU 71

Although Jordan Geist went off again, the Missouri Tigers’ season came to a close on Thursday. They were defeated 81-71 by the Auburn Tigers in the second game of the SEC Tournament’s second round. Auburn got four double figure outputs, as Bryce Brown led the way with 17 points. Chuma Okeke scored 12 while Malik Dunbar and Horace Spencer chipped in 11. As we mentioned, Geist went off yet again after a career-high 30-point performance against the Georgia Bulldogs. He scored 25 points in Mizzou’s final game of the year, in what was a solid follow up performance. Torrence Watson went for 20, with all his made field goals (6) coming from long distance. Auburn now has a matchup looming with the 4-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks ahead of them.

ALABAMA 62, OLE MISS 57

At the 19:42 mark of the second half, the Ole Miss Rebels led 40-24 over the Alabama Crimson Tide. A 16-point lead with an entire half to go figured to keep the Tide at bay and have the Rebels trudge onwards. However, Alabama would surge forward and not only would they seize control of the game, but they’d go on to win the whole dang thing, too. The Tide celebrated a 62-57 win by the time triple zeroes hit, handing the Rebs a debilitating loss. Tevin Mack scored 13 of his 21 points in the second half to help fuel the rally. Kira Lewis Jr. gave the Tide 11 of his 13 points in the second half, helping along with Mack to score the dramatic comeback win. ‘Bama will now face the Kentucky Wildcats on Friday.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 80, TEXAS A&M 54

The fourth and final game of the SEC Tournament’s second round was never particularly close. The Mississippi State Bulldogs turned their matchup with the Teas A&M Aggies into a laugher. State eventually won 80-54 in perhaps the most impressive showing all day. Lamar Peters led with 15 points while Quinndary Weatherspoon scored 12. Not to be outdone, Tyson Carter scored 14 points of his own, giving State a quality three-man scoring punch. Nine players who saw the floor scored, and three — Reggie Perry, Aric Holman and Robert Woodard II — all scored nine points. Savion Flagg scored 21 and Brandon Mahan scored 10, but it was an otherwise quiet night for the Aggies. Mississippi State will turn their attention to the Tennessee Volunteers on Friday.