Auburn’s Miles Kelly After Strong NCAA Tournament Performance: ‘Everything I Dreamed Of’
The Auburn Tigers have had several players rise to the occasion this season, and on Thursday in the NCAA Tournament, it was Miles Kelly’s turn to shine.
Auburn defeated Alabama State 83-63, with the final score looking comfortable, but the Hornets made things competitive at times. Kelly’s 23 points were key in keeping Alabama State at arm’s length, with his hot shooting early on setting the tone. Kelly started the game a perfect 4-for-4 from beyond the arc, helping Auburn build an early lead that Alabama State had to chase the rest of the way.
Kelly, who transferred to Auburn this season after spending three years at Georgia Tech, made the most of his opportunity in Rupp Arena.
“It’s everything I dreamed of,” Kelly said after the game. “It’s great. My teammates did a great job of finding me, and all I had to do was knock it down. Just credit to my teammates for giving me open looks.”
Got hot. Stayed hot. 🥵 pic.twitter.com/JmbrFOGDBQ
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) March 21, 2025
Kelly’s energy matched the precision of his shooting. With Alabama State threatening a comeback in the first half, Kelly hit a crucial three-pointer with just over a minute remaining to extend Auburn’s lead to six.
“It was huge for us and for our energy,” Kelly said. “At that point in the game, our energy was kind of low. Alabama State had just made a run, so we needed to make plays to get back on track. I just saw the ball going in, and I was near the 3-point line, so I stepped back and made the shot.”
While forward Johni Broome is Auburn’s best overall player, Kelly proved that the team has multiple contributors capable of stepping up. Kelly’s leadership was vital during this “win or go home” moment.
“This is win or go home time,” Kelly said. “So we’ve got to do whatever it takes to win. At that moment in the game, we needed some energy. People we rely on for that energy weren’t there, so I had to bring another level of energy to get us going.”
Throughout the season, Auburn has proven they can win in many different ways, relying on contributions from various players. This versatility is one of the reasons they’re the No. 1 overall seed and SEC champions. On Thursday night, it was Kelly who provided the spark with his scorching shooting.
Leave a Reply