Kentucky overwhelms Auburn for 20th win of season 86-54
Auburn #Auburn
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Oscar Tshiebwe had 22 points and 17 rebounds and Antonio Reeves scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half when Kentucky pulled away to beat Auburn 86-54 on Saturday for the Wildcats’ 20th win.
Jacob Tobbin had 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Cason Wallace almost made it three Wildcats with double-doubles, scoring 19 points and collecting nine assists. Kentucky (20-9, 11-5 SEC) won its fourth straight after shooting 56%.
After Allen Flanigan’s bucket to open the second half got the Tigers (19-10, 9-7) within nine, Reeves scored seven straight points in a 13-3 run for a 53-34 lead with 13 minutes to go. He added a trio of 3-pointers the rest of the way, his final one giving Kentucky a 36-point lead by the final media timeout. The Wildcats stretched it to 40 before the remainder of the starters departed.
Jaylin Williams scored 13 points and Johni Broome 12 for Auburn, which shot just 34% and was outrebounded 41-23.
A basket by Toppin gave Kentucky a one-point lead and began a 16-4 run over the final five minutes of the first half for a 40-29 lead. Auburn made only one its final nine shots. Tshiebwe already had his double-double by halftime with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Auburn plays at No.2 Alabama on Wednesday then concludes the regular season at home against Tennessee on Saturday. Kentucky is host to Vanderbilt on Wednesday and plays at Arkansas on Saturday.
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Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe (34) shoots between Auburn’s Johni Broome, left, and Allen Flanigan (22) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/James Crisp)
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