Johni Broome refused to let anything stand in the way of leading his team to the Final Four, not even an elbow injury.

Advancing to the Final Four for the second time in program history, No. 1 Auburn used a hot start and Broome’s valiant effort to defeat Michigan State 70-64 Sunday in the South Region final.

Broome led the Tigers with 25 points and 14 rebounds, his 21st double-double of the season.

“Johni Broome stepped up again,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “Just keep doubting him, and keep thinking that he's not going to be able to get to another gear. I know what he's capable of. You talk about delivering again at the biggest moments.”

Forced to the locker room after going to the floor while batting for a rebound, Broome returned after more than five minutes, hitting a 3-pointer seconds later that gave Auburn a 60-48 lead with 4:40 remaining.

“All glory to God,” said Broome, who made 10 of 13 attempts. “When I came back out, when I hit that 3 ball, I called on him again. You’ve got to always call on him. He's always going to deliver. I just wanted to help my teammates. If that's coming back out and playing and hitting one shot and grabbing the rebound, I was going to do it.”

“He’s carried us on his back all season,” said Denver Jones, who scored eight points. “That’s a testament to his greatness. He’s for sure going to go down as one of the best Auburn players in history.”

Leading by nine at the half, Auburn maintained at least a five-point advantage throughout the second half, handing Tom Izzo his first defeat in 11 SEC Tournament games against SEC opponents.

Broome produced another monstrous first half, registering his second consecutive double-double in the opening period with 17 points and 11 rebounds. 

Setting the tone immediately, Broome banked in a bucket off the opening tip, making his first five shots, scoring Auburn’s first six points and making his first five shots. 

After Michigan State took an early two-point lead, Auburn unleashed a 17-0 run. 

After Miles Kelly got it started with back-to-back jumpers, Chaney Johnson hit a jumper in the paint.

Kelly made a steal and hit a 3-pointer, leading to a huge roar from the Auburn-heavy crowd among the 16,768 in attendance.

“It was super impactful,” said Kelly, who had eight points, six rebounds and three assists. “The motto of today’s game was to set the tone early. That’s what we did. That set the tone for the whole game.” 

After a Spartan turnover, Tahaad Pettiford drilled a 3-pointer amid shouts of “Let’s Go Auburn!”

“Grateful for our fans and our families,” Pearl said. “We're an everything school. Our fans represented really well here in Atlanta.”

Broome drove baseline and scored, then the All-American and SEC player of the year sank a 3-pointer to give the Tigers a 23-8 lead to cap the Tigers’ second-longest run of the season (18-0 vs. Monmouth).

Michigan State, after missing 10 consecutive shots, cut the Tigers’ lead in half with a 7-0 run, then pulled within five on Jaxon Kohler’s 3-pointer.

Pettiford finished though contact, then Broome finished the half as he started it, scoring the Tigers’ final four points to give Auburn a 33-24 halftime lead. 

A historic season continues next week at the Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, where Auburn (32-5) will play fellow No. 1 seed Florida Saturday at 5:09 p.m. CT on CBS and the Auburn Sports Network.  

“We have to continue to figure out ways to elevate our game,” Pearl told his team in the locker room after cutting down nets. “We’re playing for a national championship.”