Nashville has been filled with SEC fans as they root for their favorite teams at Bridgestone Arena.
Tip off took place Wednesday evening in the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament as Mississippi State and LSU faced off at 6 p.m. That game was followed by Auburn and Missouri at 8 p.m.
Quinndary Weatherspoon scored 19 points, and 12th-seeded Mississippi State routed LSU 79-52 in the opening game. The Bulldogs have been set play fifth-seeded Alabama on Thursday.
Kevin Puryear hit a three-pointer just before the buzzer, and Missouri rallied to beat Auburn 86-83 in overtime to keep coach Kim Anderson working at least one game longer, advancing to a game against sixth-seeded Mississippi on Thursday.
Thursday’s complete schedule saw four games that sent four teams to the quarterfinals:
- Game 3: No. 8 Georgia defeated No. 9 Tennessee, 59-57 (Click here to read game stats)
- Game 4: No. 5 Alabama defeated Mississippi State, 75-55
- Game 5: No. 7 Vanderbilt defeated No. 10 Texas A&M, 66-41 (Click here to read game stats)
- Game 6: No. 6 Ole Miss defeated Missouri, 86-74
Those four games led the teams to Friday's quaterfinals, scheduled as follows:
- Game 7: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 8 Georgia, 12 p.m.
- Game 8: No. 4 South Carolina vs. No. 5 Alabama, 2:30 p.m.
- Game 9: No. 2 Florida vs. No. 7 Vanderbilt, 6 p.m.
- Game 10: No 3. Arkansas vs. No. 6 Ole Miss, 8:30 p.m.
Broadway will be shut down starting at 5th Avenue through the weekend as thousands of fans head downtown for the games.
Security at the tournament has changed slightly this year to fit in with other SEC tournaments.
A clear bag policy has been put in place, not allowing any bags larger than a small clutch to be brought into the game, but a bag check has been set up on Broadway for those who bring their non-clear bags on accident.
The schedule for the remaining two days of games has been set as follows:
Saturday, March 11 (Semifinals):
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 12 p.m.
- Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 2:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 12 (Championship):
- Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 12 p.m.
To read the latest on the tournament, click here.
