The record-breaking Neville Arena crowd cheered loudly as Auburn won the opening tip. It didn’t take long for Chaney Johnson -- Auburn’s 6-foot-7 forward who was filling in for the injured Johni Broome -- to get the ball on his way to the rim.

Chad Baker-Mazara scored 20 points, and No. 1 Auburn beat No. 15 Mississippi State 88-66 on Tuesday night in its first game without star center Johni Broome.

Five Auburn players scored in double figures and the No. 1 Tigers survived their first test without their best player, Johni Broome, prevailing 88-66 over visiting No. 15 Mississippi State on Tuesday.