Auburn Starts March Madness Journey Against Alabama State

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The No. 1 overall seed Auburn Tigers begin their March Madness campaign against Alabama State after the Hornets secured their first NCAA tournament victory on Tuesday night. The two teams will clash at 2:50 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 20, 2025, following Alabama State’s 70-68 win over Saint Francis (PA) in the First Four round.

Auburn holds a dominant 6-0 record in the all-time series against Alabama State and is looking to advance in the tournament, facing Creighton in the next round if victorious.

Point guard Denver Jones, who has been managing an injury, assured media that he is ready for the challenge. “I’ve been playing through it. It’s getting better daily,” Jones said. “But the constant playing makes it harder for an injury to heal.”

Auburn’s starting lineup for the game will include Denver Jones, Miles Kelly, Chad Baker-Mazara, Johni Broome, and Dylan Cardwell. The team, with a season record of 28-5, comes into the game after a mixed performance post-SEC championship.

“(We) take it one game at a time, truly,” said Auburn Head Coach Bruce Pearl. “Defense and rebounding are going to travel. There are going to be some nights we’re going to shoot it really well, and some nights we are not.”

Despite their recent struggles, the Tigers are expected to perform strongly against Alabama State, who finished with a 20-15 record this season. The Hornets are ranked 273rd overall and possess the 270th-best offense and 256th-ranked defense, indicating a significant challenge ahead.

<p“Auburn is coming off a down stretch, and they’ll be looking for an emphatic victory,” said Adam Cole, an athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. “Both teams are fully prepared for what’s to come.”

The broadcast will be available on CBS and local radio stations, including WLWI FM (92.3) and WGZZ FM (94.3). Fans can tune in for live updates along with score tracking as the tournament unfolds.