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.

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.

Five Auburn players scored in double figures and the host Tigers, the top-ranked team in the nation, survived their first test without their best player, Johni Broome, prevailing 88-66 over No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday.

Auburn is No. 1 in the CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings for the sixth consecutive morning and will likely move to No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll when it updates later Monday.

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.

The Auburn forward is dealing with an ankle injury. Here is the latest updates ahead of Auburn’s game vs. Mississippi State.

Auburn basketball's first contest as the nation's No. 1 one comes against No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday. Stay tuned to the M Advertiser's live blog for in-game score updates.

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.