Mississippi 68, Auburn: 54: Nick Williams scored a career-high 22 points as the Rebels vaulted into the SEC quarterfinals.

Williams, a junior guard, finished 9 for 14 from the field as Mississippi (19-12) advances to face second-seed Tennessee in Friday’s quarterfinals. The winner moves into Saturday’s semifinals against Vanderbilt, Georgia or Mississippi State.

Auburn (15-16) pulled within 45-42 on Chris Denson’s free throw with 9:10 remaining. Mississippi scored 16 of the next 22 points, Williams scoring nine points in the run, to build a 61-48 advantage with 3:30 remaining.

Williams scored just two points in the first 16 minutes, but he scored five points in the final four minutes of the first half as the Rebels built a 28-23 halftime lead. He added 15 points in the second half.

Williams finished 4 for 8 from 3-point range as the Rebels extended their winning streak to four games.

Frankie Sullivan scored 15 points to lead Auburn, but finished 1 for 11 from 3-point range. Kenny Gabriel added 11 points, but was saddled with foul trouble and fouled out with 1:04 to go.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mississippi’s Murphy Holloway recorded his third double-double in three games against the Tigers, finishing with 13 points and 13 rebounds. … The Rebels, last in the SEC in free-throw shooting (59.5 percent) entering the tournament, finished 21-for-32 (65.6 percent) from the line. … Auburn’s last lead was 14-13 with 11:26 left in the first half. … The Rebels win the season series 2-1. … The Tigers finish the season with seven losses in their final nine games.