**Auburn Secures Historic Win Over Kentucky, Clinches Share of SEC Championship
No. 1 Auburn delivered a dominant performance at Rupp Arena on Saturday, defeating No. 17 Kentucky 94-78 to claim its first victory in Lexington since 1988. The Tigers’ triumph not only ended a 20-game losing streak at Rupp but also secured at least a share of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular-season championship.
Head coach Bruce Pearl was elated after the game, emphasizing his team’s focus and determination.
> “I’m so happy for the kids. We played like champions,” Pearl said. “The guys have been so locked in. The league is so good. Our guards were incredible. To win the SEC in Rupp Arena is historic, it’s significant.”
Miles Kelly’s Shooting Masterclass Leads the WaySenior guard Miles Kelly was the driving force behind Auburn’s offensive explosion, sinking nine three-pointers and scoring a team-high 30 points. His performance helped Auburn improve to 8-0 in SEC road games and move one step closer to an outright conference title.
> “These are the moments why I came to Auburn,” Kelly said. “I’m super grateful. We give all glory to God.”
Kelly was locked in from the opening tip, draining a **three-pointer just 12 seconds into the game**. He connected on four threes in the first half, including two banked shots, and helped Auburn build an early double-digit lead.
> “At shootaround, I fell in love with the rims,” Kelly added. “Everything I was putting up at shootaround was going in. I knew I would get some looks early, and I knocked them down. My teammates did a great job of finding me.”
Tahaad Pettiford’s Breakout Performance
Freshman Tahaad Pettiford also shined, scoring 21 points while adding four assists and zero turnovers in a career-high 33 minutes of play. His extended time on the court was due to an ankle injury suffered by Denver Jones, who was limited to just eight minutes.
> “Playing like the best freshman guard in the country,” Pearl said of Pettiford. “He doesn’t have a turnover against (Lamont) Butler, who’s one of the better defenders in the league.”
Pettiford was thrilled by the moment, acknowledging the significance of the win while remaining focused on the team’s bigger goals.
> “It’s amazing. Being a freshman, I’ve never experienced anything like this. That’s why I came here—to win,” he said. “We’re a really special team. We’re all happy, but we know we have business to handle when we get back to the Plains. Enjoy our time today but get back in the gym tomorrow.”
Auburn’s Defense Stifles Kentucky
Auburn’s defensive game plan proved to be highly effective, as the Tigers forced 18 turnovers and held Kentucky to just 4-of-17 shooting from three-point range.
Run them off the line,” Pettiford said, explaining Auburn’s strategy. “Make them play a half-court game that we want them to play.”
Auburn’s defense completely disrupted Kentucky’s rhythm. The Wildcats, who came into the game averaging 9.9 made three-pointers per game, were held to a season-low of just four made threes
The Tigers wasted no time seizing control, jumping out to a 19-6 lead within the first six minutes. They never trailed again, leading by at least 14 points for the final 10 minutes of the game.
Chad Baker-Mazara’s First-Half Spark
Chad Baker-Mazara provided another key boost for Auburn, scoring 16 of his 22 points in the first half. His offensive burst helped the Tigers build a 49-34 halftime lead, and he continued to be a force throughout the game.
Baker-Mazara has now recorded back-to-back 22-point games, marking his third 20-point performance of the season. He also contributed three steals, two rebounds, one assist, and one block while making 9-of-10 free throws.
Auburn Makes History in Lexington
This win marks just Auburn’s third victory in 54 all-time games at Rupp Arena, snapping a 20-game losing streak in the building. It is also the Tigers’ largest road win in series history, surpassing previous high-margin victories of 19 points (1965, 1984).
Auburn’s 94 points are the most they’ve scored against Kentucky since 1990 when they put up 95 points.
Additionally, the Tigers matched school records with their 27th regular-season win and 15th SEC victory, both previously set in 2022.
Looking Ahead
With their seventh consecutive victory, Auburn (27-2, 15-1 SEC) remains on the road as they prepare to face Texas A&M on Tuesday at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN and broadcast on the Auburn Sports Network.
Despite the historic nature of the Kentucky win, Pearl stressed the importance of staying focused on the bigger picture.
> “Five different teams in the past eight years have been champions,” Pearl said, referencing Auburn’s regular-season titles in 2018, 2022, and 2025**, as well as SEC Tournament championships in 2019 and 2024. “This should put some wind in our sails. We’ve got to continue to find ways to get better. I promise you we won’t let success get to us. There’s more work to be done.”
Key Stats and Notes
– Three 20-Point Scorers: Auburn had three players score 20+ points in a game for the first time since 2020.
– Miles Kelly’s Record Night: Kelly’s nine three-pointers were the most by an Auburn player in Bruce Pearl’s tenure and just one shy of the school record (Lance Weems, 1996).
– Turnover Battle: Auburn scored 21 points off 18 Kentucky turnovers, while the Wildcats managed just nine points off eight Auburn turnovers.
-Dylan Cardwell’s Milestone**: With this win, Dylan Cardwell became the winningest player in Auburn history with 115 career victories,surpassing Jaylin Williams.
With momentum on their side and history already made, Auburn now turns its attention to securing an outright SEC title and preparing for a deep postseason run
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