AUBURN, Ala. -- It has been nearly three months since Auburn played LSU in their conference opener, a miserable performance in which it scored only 6 first-half points in an eventual loss.

It seems like ages ago for the Tigers (10-19, 3-12 SEC), who have shown a competitive streak in the second half of the SEC season.

“I think we’re much better,” Auburn forward Kenny Gabriel said. “We’re all coming along together and playing as one. I think everybody is on the same page.”

Both teams will try to avoid the stigma of finishing in last place when they meet in tonight’s regular-season finale at the Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, La., at 7.

The winner earns the West’s No. 5 seed in next week’s SEC tournament in Atlanta, matching up against the East’s No. 4 in the first game Thursday. The loser is the sixth seed, going up against the East’s No. 3 in the late game.