SEC Tournament 2026: Tennessee Stuns Auburn 72-62 on Nate Ament's 27-Point Return — Quarterfinals Set for Friday

The 2026 SEC Tournament turned into Nate Ament's coming-out party Thursday night in Nashville. The Tennessee freshman star returned from injury to orchestrate one of the most stunning second-half comebacks of the tournament, fueling a 20-0 run that buried Auburn 72-62 and all but ended the Tigers' NCAA Tournament hopes.

Auburn vs Tennessee Final Score: Tennessee 72, Auburn 62

Nate Ament scored 27 points as the 25th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers rallied from an 11-point deficit and beat Auburn 72-62 Thursday to reach the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The fifth-seeded Volunteers improve to 22-10 and will play No. 4 seed Vanderbilt on Friday afternoon for a slot in the semifinals.

Ament started and played 32 minutes after sitting out the last two games with an injured right knee and ankle. Tennessee would not have had a chance without the freshman. Auburn led 49-39 when Ament ignited the comeback that shifted the entire game.

Nate Ament: 27 Points, 8 Rebounds, 4 Assists, 3 Blocks

Nate Ament showed why he is considered a potential top-10 NBA Draft prospect with 27 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks. His 3-pointer after falling into a row of photographers came in the midst of a 20-0 run by the Vols.

Ament made 4 of 6 three-pointers and 9 of 13 free throws. He took over from a tie game at 51-51 with 7:32 to play, scoring eight straight points as part of a relentless second-half takeover that Auburn had no answer for.

Ament is a 6-foot-10 forward averaging 17.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He is Tennessee's second-leading scorer behind Ja'Kobi Gillespie and is firmly projected as a top-10 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

How the Tennessee 20-0 Run Happened

Auburn's Tahaad Pettiford hit a jumper at the 10:26 mark of the second half to put Auburn up 51-41. The Volunteers then went on a 20-0 scoring barrage, with Ament scoring 11 of Tennessee's points during the run. Tennessee went up 61-51 as the Bridgestone Arena crowd rose to its feet.

Auburn missed a transition layup after Tennessee took the lead for good on a free throw, and the Vols stretched the margin further on a Ja'Kobi Gillespie steal and layup. A technical foul on Auburn coach Steven Pearl, called at the 3:56 mark, handed Ament additional free throws and pushed the lead to double digits.

Auburn NCAA Tournament Bubble: Tournament Hopes in Serious Jeopardy

Auburn entered Thursday's game firmly on the NCAA Tournament bubble. Now, the Tigers may be out of the tournament altogether after this 19-0 Tennessee run. It is extremely hard to see how a .500 Auburn team makes the 68-team field with the MAC now getting two bids.

Pettiford led all scorers with 28 points while Keyshawn Hall added 10 for the Tigers. Auburn managed just 30 points on 32.3 percent shooting in the second half and will now wait and hope for favorable results ahead of Selection Sunday.

SEC Tournament 2026 Quarterfinals: Full Friday Schedule

Friday's four SEC Tournament quarterfinals are all in Nashville at Bridgestone Arena. Game 9 sends No. 1 Florida against No. 9 Kentucky at 1:00 PM ET on ESPN. Game 10 pits No. 4 Vanderbilt against No. 5 Tennessee at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN. Game 11 has No. 2 Alabama against the Ole Miss-Georgia winner at 7:00 PM ET on SEC Network. Game 12 sends No. 3 Arkansas against the Texas A&M-Oklahoma winner at 9:30 PM ET on SEC Network.

The SEC Tournament is being held at Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville through Sunday, March 15. The championship game tips at 1:00 PM ET Sunday on ESPN, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.