Tigers top Gamecocks to win SEC outright

The Auburn Tigers got to celebrate a solo Southeastern Conference title with a flood of orange and blue confetti and no thoughts of tiebreakers.

A team led by newcomers is hoping for more March celebrations.

Freshman Jabari Smith scored 21 points, transfer K.D. Johnson had 18 and No. 5 Auburn won the title outright with an 82-71 victory over South Carolina on Saturday.

The Tigers (27-4, 15-3 SEC) secured the No. 1 seed for next week’s league tournament in Tampa, Florida, after entering the day one game up on No. 7 Kentucky, No. 13 Tennessee and No. 14 Arkansas.

No tiebreakers needed, though the Gamecocks (18-12, 9-9) did rally after trailing by 19 early in the second half

“To be 15-3 in this league says they came to play every night,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “They really did. Now that is virtually impossible to do when you’re dealing with 18-, 19-, 20-year-old kids. Our kids came in to play every single night. They took no team for granted.”

Freshman guard Zakai Zeigler, whose family was left homeless by a fire in New York City last weekend, made two key free throws in the final seconds to help No. 13 Tennessee hold off No. 14 Arkansas 78-74 Saturday. ... Bryce Thompson made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.4 seconds left and Oklahoma State beat No. 12 Texas Tech 52-51 on Saturday, eliminating the Red Raiders from the Big 12 title race.

Golf: Billy Horschel got a birdie on the 18th hole at Bay Hill on Saturday for a 1-under 71 that gave him a share of the lead with Talor Gooch in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

NBA: All-Star guard Luka Doncic sat out the Mavericks’ home game against the Kings on Saturday because of a left toe sprain.

NHL: The Coyotes signed center Travis Boyd to a two-year contract. Terms of the deal announced on Saturday were not released.