In an impressive performance on Saturday, Auburn, the nation’s top-ranked team, triumphed over No. 17 Kentucky with a decisive 94-78 victory in Lexington. Miles Kelly had a standout game, scoring a season-high 30 points for the Tigers.
Auburn’s win marks their sixth consecutive victory and solidifies their claim to the SEC regular-season title, an achievement confirmed when No. 5 Tennessee narrowly defeated No. 6 Alabama 79-76 later that day. The Auburn team celebrated their title win enthusiastically, capturing the moment on video as they watched Tennessee’s winning 3-pointer from the road. This victory in Kentucky also marks Auburn’s first success in Lexington since a narrow 53-52 win over then No. 1 Kentucky back in 1988.
Supporting Kelly’s stellar play, Chad Baker-Mazara contributed 22 points while Tahaad Pettiford added 21. On the other side, Kentucky’s efforts were led by Koby Brea, who scored 21 points. Teammates Andrew Carr and Amari Williams also made substantial contributions, with Carr scoring 20 points and Williams logging a double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Key takeaways from the game include a notable performance from Auburn, where leading scorer Johni Broome managed just nine points, having only scored once in the first half. The Tigers have now tallied eight wins against top-15 ranked opponents during the season, including six victories over top-five ranked teams, maintaining an unbeaten record of 10-0 on the road within the league.
Meanwhile, Kentucky faced challenges, particularly with the absence of Jaxson Robinson due to a wrist injury. Their leading scorer, Otega Oweh, who recently scored a career-high of 28 points, fell short of his usual performance, contributing just four points. Kentucky’s lackluster attempt from beyond the arc saw them make only four 3-pointers, whereas Auburn converted 12.
A critical moment in the game occurred when Auburn executed a decisive 14-2 run, transforming a narrow 7-6 lead into a commanding 21-8 advantage within the first half. The Tigers closed out the opening half with another strong push, finishing with an 11-2 burst that extended their lead to 49-34 by halftime.
Significant statistics included Kentucky’s struggle with turnovers, committing 18, from which Auburn capitalized to score 21 points. The Wildcats faced a particularly rough start in the second half, turning over the ball four consecutive times within just three minutes.
Looking ahead, Kentucky is set to host LSU, while Auburn is preparing to face No. 12 Texas A&M on Tuesday night.
