The streak is over and the nets are coming down.
No. 1 Auburn beat No. 17 Kentucky 94-78 Saturday to clinch at least a share of the SEC regular season championship and end a 20-game losing streak at Rupp Arena.
The Tigers, which improved to 27-2 overall and 15-1 in the conference, win the sixth league title in program history and the third in 11 seasons under Bruce Pearl.
Kelly was on fire from 3-point range to lead Auburn to its first win at UK since 1988. (Photo by Matt Stone/USA Today images)
Miles Kelly led Auburn with a season-high 30 points including 9 of 14 3-pointers. Chad Baker-Mazara added 22 points and Tahaad Pettiford had 21.
Auburn finished the first half on a 10-2 run to lead 49-34 at the break. AU held UK without a field goal for the final 7:12 of the first half and first 3:40 of the second, building a 22-point lead with 14:31 left in the game.
AU led by 13 or more points for the final 21 minutes of the game.
The Tigers scored 21 points off 18 turnovers and out-scored the Wildcats 29-5 off the bench. UK made just 4 of 17 3-point while AU hit 12 of 26.
It’s AU’s first win in Lexington since 1988 and only the third-ever in 54 games.
All-American Johni Broome was held to just nine points and six rebounds and starting point guard Denver Jones injured his ankle with 8:33 left in the first half and did not return.
Auburn plays at No. 12 Texas A&M Tuesday night at 8 p.m. CT and closes out the regular season against No. 6 Alabama next Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Both games will air on ESPN.