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.

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.

In the absence of Broome, Auburn front-liner Chaney Johnson stepped up and delivered. Not only did Johnson tie his season high in minutes (34), but he had 17 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.

Without Johni Broome, No. 1 Auburn basketball had no problem downing No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday. Here's a look at how it happened.

Auburn basketball head coach Bruce Pearl loved what he saw in the dominant win against Mississippi State on Monday.

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.