A pair of top 15 teams at the top of the SEC meet up on Tuesday, Jan. 14 when the No. 1 Auburn Tigers host the No. 15 Mississippi State Bulldogs at Neville Arena in Auburn, Ala.

Earlier in the week, while discussing Auburn, I explained why I think the Tigers deserve their No. 1 ranking but acknowledged I also find it hard to believe they're actually the best team in the country without the injured Johni Broome.

Five Auburn players scored in double figures and the host Tigers, the top-ranked team in the nation, survived their first test without their best player, Johni Broome, prevailing 88-66 over No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday.

It turns out that the Tigers are just fine without star Johni Broome. No. 1 Auburn rolled over No. 15 Mississippi State to grab an 88-66 win at Neville Arena. It marked their first game since taking over the top spot in the national rankings,

Auburn Tigers defend their top spot in the AP Poll, overcoming Johni Broome's injury and showcasing strong SEC road win depth. Ben and Donnie recap the game.

Auburn played its first game without injured star Johni Broome but Mississippi State basketball did not take advantage. And it wasn’t even close. The No. 18 Bulldogs (14-3, 2-2 SEC) were dismantled 88-66 at No.