Auburn power forward Johni Broome had a few words for Florida’s Alex Condon in a physical Final Four battle, as the two forwards squared off with a spot in the national title game on the line against either Houston or Duke.
The matchup was a rematch of their earlier meeting this season, when Condon dropped 17 points to help lead Florida past Auburn. Broome scored 18 in that game, but it came in a losing effort.
Johni Broome Gets the Bucket, But Alex Condon the Last Word?
Heading into the Final Four showdown, Condon told Sporting News he was ready for the challenge of facing Auburn’s star forward again, saying he was fired up for the moment.
“That’s our mentality going into the game. He’s a fantastic player. I’m fired up, and I’m playing for Florida. I’m ready to go.”
Condon also acknowledged he expected Broome to come out aggressive.
“He’s going to be wanting to come out and prove that he’s a better player than me,” Condon said ahead of the game.
Johni Broome Laid Down Early Marker
Early in the game, the two power forwards didn’t waste time getting physical. Bumping bodies in the paint, Broome hit a fadeaway jumper over Condon to open the scoring—and appeared to let the Florida big man hear about it.
Condon, for his part, appeared unfazed and didn’t respond.
Did Broome Win the Individual Battle?
Though the Gators ultimately secured a 79-73 win thanks to standout performances from Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin, Broome held his own in the head-to-head matchup.
The Auburn forward finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Condon, by contrast, recorded just one point—a free throw—and four boards in the contest.
Condon will now turn his attention to Monday’s national championship game, where Florida will face the winner of Duke and Houston. Meanwhile, Broome is expected to begin preparing for the NBA Draft.
KEEP READING: Walter Clayton Jr. Makes History in Final Four Win Over Auburn
According to the latest CSN NBA Mock Draft, Broome was selected with the 43rd overall pick, while some mock drafts have seen him potentially at the tail-end of Round 1.
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