# 2018 SEC men's basketball tournament

The 2018 Southeastern Conference men's basketball tournament was a postseason men's basketball tournament for the Southeastern Conference held at Scottrade Center, now known as Enterprise Center, in St. Louis, Missouri, from March 7 through March 11, 2018. Kentucky defeated Tennessee, 77–72, in the championship game to earn an automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

## Seeds

| Seed | School | Conference record | Overall record | Tiebreaker |
| 1 | Auburn$^{‡†}$ | 13–5 | 25–6 | 1–0 vs. Tennessee |
| 2 | Tennessee$^{‡†}$ | 13–5 | 23–7 | 0–1 vs. Auburn |
| 3 | Florida$^†$ | 11–7 | 20–11 | |
| 4 | Kentucky$^†$ | 10–8 | 21–10 | 2–1 vs. Arkansas and Missouri |
| 5 | Missouri$^#$ | 10–8 | 20–11 | 2–2 vs. Arkansas and Kentucky |
| 6 | Arkansas$^#$ | 10–8 | 21–10 | 1–2 vs. Kentucky and Missouri |
| 7 | Mississippi State$^#$ | 9–9 | 21–10 | 1–0 vs. Texas A&M |
| 8 | Texas A&M$^#$ | 9–9 | 20–11 | 0–1 vs. Mississippi State |
| 9 | Alabama$^#$ | 8–10 | 17–14 | 2–0 vs. LSU |
| 10 | LSU$^#$ | 8–10 | 17–13 | 0–2 vs. Alabama |
| 11 | South Carolina | 7–11 | 16–15 | 2–0 vs. Georgia |
| 12 | Georgia | 7–11 | 16–14 | 0–2 vs. South Carolina |
| 13 | Vanderbilt | 6–12 | 12–19 | |
| 14 | Ole Miss | 5–13 | 12–19 | |
| ‡ – SEC regular season co-champions, and tournament No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. † – Received a double-bye in the conference tournament. # – Received a single-bye in the conference tournament. Overall records include all games played in the SEC Tournament. |||||

## Schedule

| Game | Time* | Matchup$^#$ | Score | Television | Attendance |
| First round – Wednesday, March 7 ||||||
| 1 | 6:00 pm | No. 12 Georgia vs. No. 13 Vanderbilt | 78–62 | SEC Network | 8,190 |
| 2 | 8:30 pm | No. 11 South Carolina vs. No. 14 Ole Miss | 85–84 | SEC Network | 8,190 |
| Second round – Thursday, March 8 ||||||
| 3 | Noon | No. 8 Texas A&M vs. No. 9 Alabama | 70–71 | SEC Network | 15,129 |
| 4 | 2:30 pm | No. 5 Missouri vs. No. 12 Georgia | 60–62 | SEC Network | 15,129 |
| 5 | 6:00 pm | No. 7 Mississippi State vs. No. 10 LSU | 80–77 | SEC Network | 11,752 |
| 6 | 8:30 pm | No. 6 Arkansas vs. No. 11 South Carolina | 69–64 | SEC Network | 11,752 |
| Quarterfinals – Friday, March 9 ||||||
| 7 | Noon | No. 1 Auburn vs. No. 9 Alabama | 63–81 | ESPN | 16,364 |
| 8 | 2:30 pm | No. 4 Kentucky vs. No. 12 Georgia | 62–49 | ESPN | 16,364 |
| 9 | 6:00 pm | No. 2 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Mississippi State | 62–59 | SEC Network | 14,596 |
| 10 | 8:30 pm | No. 3 Florida vs. No. 6 Arkansas | 72–80 | SEC Network | 14,596 |
| Semifinals – Saturday, March 10 ||||||
| 11 | Noon | No. 4 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Alabama | 86–63 | ESPN | 18,729 |
| 12 | 2:30 pm | No. 2 Tennessee vs No. 6 Arkansas | 84–66 | ESPN | 18,729 |
| Championship – Sunday, March 11 ||||||
| 13 | Noon | No. 4 Kentucky vs No. 2 Tennessee | 77–72 | ESPN | 18,973 |
| *Game times in CT. # – Rankings denote tournament seed ||||||
Source:

## Bracket

| First round Wednesday, March 7 SECN | First round Wednesday, March 7 SECN | First round Wednesday, March 7 SECN | Second round Thursday, March 8 SECN | Second round Thursday, March 8 SECN | Second round Thursday, March 8 SECN | Quarterfinals Friday, March 9 ESPN/SECN | Quarterfinals Friday, March 9 ESPN/SECN | Quarterfinals Friday, March 9 ESPN/SECN | | | Semifinals Saturday, March 10 ESPN | Semifinals Saturday, March 10 ESPN | Semifinals Saturday, March 10 ESPN | Championship Sunday, March 11 ESPN | Championship Sunday, March 11 ESPN | Championship Sunday, March 11 ESPN |
| | | | | | | 1 | Auburn | 63 | | | | | | |
| | | | 8 | Texas A&M | 70 | 9 | Alabama | 81 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 9 | Alabama | 71 | | | | | | 9 | Alabama | 63 | |
| | | | | | | | | | 4 | Kentucky | 86 | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Kentucky | 62 | | | | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Missouri | 60 | 12 | Georgia | 49 | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Georgia | 78 | 12 | Georgia | 62 | | | | | | | | 4 | Kentucky | 77 |
| 13 | Vanderbilt | 62 | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 2 | Tennessee | 72 |
| | | | | | | 2 | Tennessee | 62 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 7 | Mississippi State | 80 | 7 | Mississippi State | 59 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 10 | LSU | 77 | | | | | | 2 | Tennessee | 84 | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | 6 | Arkansas | 66 | | | | | |
| | | | | | | 3 | Florida | 72 | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 6 | Arkansas | 69 | 6 | Arkansas | 80 | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | South Carolina | 85 | 11 | South Carolina | 64 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Ole Miss | 84 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

## Game summaries
### First round

* SECN
* March 7 6:00 pm
* Recap
No. 13 Vanderbilt 62, No. 12 Georgia 78 :
| Scoring by half: 22–43, 40–35 |||
| Pts: R. LaChance 17 Rebs: S. Lee 7 Asts: Tied 3 | Pts: Y. Maten 25 Rebs: D. Ogbeide 10 Asts: T. Hightower 6 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 8,190 Referees: Joe Lindsay, Brian Shey, Chuck Jones
* SECN
* March 7 8:18 pm
* Recap
No. 14 Ole Miss 84, No. 11 South Carolina 85 :
| Scoring by half: 36–48, 38–47 |||
| Pts: B. Tyree 18 Rebs: B. Stevens 13 Asts: D. Burnett 4 | Pts: 2 Tied 21 Rebs: C. Silva 11 Asts: H. Gravett 7 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 8,190 Referees: Tony Greene, Tony Henderson, Todd Austin

### Second round

* SECN
* March 8 12:00 pm
* Recap
No. 9 Alabama 71, No. 8 Texas A&M 70 :
| Scoring by half: 35–36, 36-34 |||
| Pts: C. Sexton 27 Rebs: D. Ingram 9 Asts: C. Sexton 5 | Pts: T. Starks 23 Rebs: T. Davis 10 Asts: T. Starks 4 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 15,129 Referees: Doug Shows, Chuck Jones, Tony Henderson
* SECN
* March 8 2:30 pm
No. 12 Georgia 62, No. 5 Missouri 60 :
| Scoring by half: 33–24, 29–36 |||
| Pts: Y. Maten 21 Rebs: Y. Maten 10 Asts: T. Crump 3 | Pts: J. Porter 20 Rebs: J. Porter 8 Asts: K. Robertson 3 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 15,129 Referees: Pat Adams, Bart Lenox, Todd Austin
* SECN
* March 8 6:00 pm
No. 10 LSU 77, No. 7 Mississippi State 80 :
| Scoring by half: 29–45, 48–35 |||
| Pts: T. Waters 28 Rebs: B. Rachal 9 Asts: T. Waters 6 | Pts: L. Peters 24 Rebs: A. Holman 12 Asts: L. Peters 6 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 11,752 Referees: Tony Greene, Jason Baker, Wil Howard
* SECN
* March 8 8:00 pm
No. 11 South Carolina 64, No. 6 Arkansas 69 :
| Scoring by half: 28–36, 36–33 |||
| Pts: C. Silva 15 Rebs: C. Silva 11 Asts: W. Myers 4 | Pts: J. Barford 17 Rebs: D. Macon 4 Asts: A. Beard 5 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 11,752 Referees: Anthony Jordan, Brian Shey, Vladimir Voyard-Tadal

### Quarterfinals

* ESPN
* March 9 12:00 pm
No. 9 Alabama 81, No. 1 Auburn 63 :
| Scoring by half: 31–41, 50–22 |||
| Pts: C. Sexton 31 Rebs: B. Key 10 Asts: D. Ingram 5 | Pts: M. Heron 18 Rebs: D. Murray 8 Asts: J. Harper 4 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 16,364 Referees: Anthony Jordan, Todd Austin, Bart Lenox
* ESPN
* March 9 2:30 pm
No. 12 Georgia 49, No. 4 Kentucky 62 :
| Scoring by half: 23–30, 26-32 |||
| Pts: T. Crump 17 Rebs: D. Ogbeide 11 Asts: Tied 1 | Pts: P. Washington 18 Rebs: P. Washington 7 Asts: S. Gilgeous-Alexander 9 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 16,364 Referees: Tony Greene, Joe Lindsay, Wil Howard
* SECN
* March 9 6:00 pm
No. 7 Mississippi State 59, No. 2 Tennessee 62 :
| Scoring by half: 24–31, 35–31 |||
| Pts: L. Peters 22 Rebs: A. Ado 8 Asts: Q. Weatherspoon 1 | Pts: L. Turner 15 Rebs: G. Williams 11 Asts: Tied 3 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 14,596 Referees: Brian Shey, Pat Adams, Rob Rorke
* SECN
* March 9 8:30 pm
No. 6 Arkansas 80, No. 3 Florida 72 :
| Scoring by half: 30–29, 50–43 |||
| Pts: J. Barford 27 Rebs: D. Gafford 12 Asts: Tied 3 | Pts: K. Stone 22 Rebs: E. Koulechov 6 Asts: C. Chiozza 6 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 14,596 Referees: Doug Shows, Chuck Jones, Tony Henderson

### Semifinals

* ESPN
* March 10 12:00 pm
No. 9 Alabama 63, No. 4 Kentucky 86 :
| Scoring by half: 19–29, 44–57 |||
| Pts: C. Sexton 21 Rebs: D. Giddens 7 Asts: C. Sexton 3 | Pts: W. Gabriel 23 Rebs: P. Washington 8 Asts: S. Gilgeous-Alexander 8 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 18,729 Referees: Doug Shows, Tony Greene, Todd Austin
* ESPN
* March 10 2:00 pm
No. 6 Arkansas 66, No. 2 Tennessee 84 :
| Scoring by half: 29–48, 37–36 |||
| Pts: D. Macon 19 Rebs: D. Hall 7 Asts: D. Hall | Pts: J. Bone 19 Rebs: Tied 7 Asts: Tied 4 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 18,729 Referees: Anthony Jordan, Chuck Jones, Joe Lindsay

### Championship

* ESPN
* March 11 12:00 pm
No. 4 Kentucky 77, No. 2 Tennessee 72 :
| Scoring by half: 36–31, 41–41 |||
| Pts: S. Gilgeous-Alexander 29 Rebs: Tied 7 Asts: Tied 3 | Pts: A. Schofield 22 Rebs: A. Schofield 10 Asts: Tied 4 |
* Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO Attendance: 18,973 Referees: Joe Lindsay, Doug Shows, Anthony Jordan