The Final Four clash in San Antonio was a heartbreaker for Auburn players and fans. On Saturday, the Tigers fell 79-73 to SEC rival Florida at the Alamodome. It was a game that slipped through their fingers in the second half. After the loss, Auburn’s Miles Kelly gave POV on what went wrong.
Auburn’s Miles Kelly Shares His Honest Points on What Went Wrong
In a post-game interview, Kelly laid it bare. “We turned the ball over too much and it led to them scoring 18 points off our turnovers,” he said. “That’s something that couldn’t happen throughout the whole game, and it ultimately happened. That’s why we lost.”
“We turned the ball over too much and it led to them scoring 18 points off our turnovers. That’s something that couldn’t happen throughout the whole game, and it ultimately happened. That’s why we lost.”
Miles Kelly on what he saw from his Auburn team in the second half vs UF. pic.twitter.com/McrNM84bRV
— Vince Wolfram (@vincewolfram15) April 6, 2025
The stat sheet backed him up. Those 18 points off turnovers proved to be a mountain too high to climb. Florida capitalized every time Auburn coughed up the ball. Kelly saw it unfold in real-time. He knew those mistakes handed the Gators the edge they needed.
The game had been a tug-of-war. Auburn led by as much as nine points at halftime. They dominated the paint early, outscoring Florida 26-14 down low in the first half. But the second half was a different story. Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr. took over, pouring in 34 points. His performance flipped the script.
Auburn couldn’t keep up. Kelly and his teammates fought hard, but the turnovers kept piling up. Florida erased the deficit and surged ahead with two minutes left. Auburn’s Johni Broome added 15 points and seven rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to mend the damage.
Kelly’s honesty cut through the noise. He didn’t point fingers or dodge the truth. The Tigers had control early, but they let it slip. Those 18 points off turnovers weren’t just a stat—they were the game.
Florida seized the moment and punched their ticket to Monday’s national championship. They’ll face the winner of Duke versus Houston. Auburn, meanwhile, heads home.
For Kelly, this loss stings deeper. It’s personal. A Georgia native, he grew up an Auburn fan, pushed by his mother Sheila’s love for the Tigers. After three years at Georgia Tech with little postseason success, he transferred to Auburn last offseason.
Auburn offered him a chance. The roster fit. The schedule aligned. And for a while, it worked. The Tigers stormed to the Final Four, cutting down nets in Atlanta along the way. Sheila and the family were there to support Kelly.
KEEP READING: March Madness Fun Facts: Surprising Stats and Records You Need To Know
But Florida ended that dream. Kelly noted how the team’s second-half collapse against the Gators was a stark contrast to their earlier plays. They couldn’t hold the line when it mattered most.
However, credits where credits are due, Clayton Jr.’s display was heroic in this match; his 34 points made him the first player since Larry Bird in 1979 to notch back-to-back 30-point games in the Elite Eight and Final Four. Auburn felt every one of those points.
The Gators’ star turned miscues into buckets. Kelly and the Tigers couldn’t adjust fast enough. Florida’s run to the title game, their first since 2007, came at Auburn’s expense.
Don’t miss a moment of March Madness! Download your 2025 NCAA Tournament printable bracket and stay on top of every game, matchup, and Cinderella story. Get yours now!
