Auburn leads Florida 46-38 at halftime in the Final Four in San Antonio, an effort that certainly impressed its most-famous alum.

The Tigers controlled the tempo against the high-scoring Gators, who came in averaging more than 85 points per game. Florida shot 44% from the field and 40% from 3-point range, but took only 27 shots in the first 20 minutes.

“I hated the first five minute of the game; man, we don’t want to play at that pace,” Barkley said during halftime on the CBS broadcast. “I said coming in that ‘if the (score) was 70-75, Auburn’s going to win this game. If it goes above that, I think we’re going to struggle.’ But that was a perfect first half of basketball.”

Auburn big man Johni Broome shook off his arm injury to score 12 points and pull down four rebounds in the first half, part of a 26-14 scoring advantage for the Tigers in the paint. Barkley — along with fellow CBS analyst Clark Kellogg — also made note of Florida’s defensive strategy against the SEC Player of the Year.

“They’re not doubling Broome, so he’s going to have to dominate in the paint,” Barkley said. “We’re up a lot in the paint. Give Florida credit; that’s their game plan. They’re trying not to let our 3-point shooters get started. I do think at some point we’re going to have to make some 3s. But right now, we’re taking what they’re giving us and Johni is punishing them down low.”