Wendell Green Jr. dribbled through traffic with 1.2 seconds left, found Jaylin Williams in the corner, and watched the sophomore drain a contested three-pointer that sent Neville Arena into a frenzy. The Tigers escaped with a 79-76 victory over Kentucky Saturday night in what may prove to be the defining moment of their SEC championship chase.
The win improved Auburn to 19-4 overall and 8-2 in conference play, keeping pace with Tennessee atop the SEC standings. Kentucky fell to 16-7 and 6-4 in league action, suffering their second consecutive road loss.
Broome Carries Tigers When It Mattered
Johni Broome delivered when his team needed him most, posting 25 points and 11 rebounds on 9-of-15 shooting. The 6-foot-10 center looked completely healthy after missing two games earlier this month with a sprained ankle—his footwork in the post was crisp, his timing on defense impeccable.
“Johni was phenomenal tonight,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said after the game. “He’s playing at an All-SEC level right now, and we’re going to need that kind of production if we want to make a run at this thing.”
The junior from Tampa scored 14 of his points in the second half, including a thunderous dunk with 4:47 remaining that gave the Tigers a 72-69 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. It was the kind of momentum-shifting play that separates good players from great ones—Broome has now scored at least 20 points in five of his last seven games.
Dillingham Keeps Wildcats Alive
Kentucky freshman Rob Dillingham kept the Wildcats within striking distance throughout the second half, finishing with 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting. The 6-foot-1 guard from North Carolina looked like a lottery pick at times, hitting four three-pointers and repeatedly finding gaps in Auburn’s aggressive defense.
Oscar Tshiebwe added 18 points and 12 rebounds for Kentucky, but the senior center struggled against Auburn’s length and athleticism. He shot just 7-of-16 from the field and committed five turnovers—a far cry from the dominant force that won National Player of the Year honors two seasons ago.
“We had our chances,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “Credit Auburn for making plays when they needed to. This is a tough place to play, and they showed why tonight.”
Six Minutes That Changed Everything
The game’s turning point came with 6:32 left in the second half. Kentucky led 65-63 when the Tigers forced three consecutive turnovers, converting each into transition baskets. Green’s steal and layup, followed by Denver Jones’ fast-break dunk, gave Auburn a 69-65 advantage that felt bigger than four points.
The home crowd sensed blood in the water.
Auburn outscored Kentucky 16-11 over the final six minutes despite shooting just 4-of-9 from the free-throw line down the stretch. The defensive pressure was relentless—18 total turnovers forced by the Tigers led to 22 points.
Supporting Cast Steps Forward
Williams, who entered the game averaging 6.8 points per contest, contributed 14 points and hit three crucial three-pointers. The sophomore from Birmingham has quietly emerged as Auburn’s most reliable perimeter shooter over the past month, and Saturday’s performance felt like a coming-out party.
Green added 12 points and seven assists despite battling foul trouble throughout the first half. The senior guard picked up his second foul with 11:47 left in the opening period but managed his aggression perfectly, avoiding his third until late in the second half.
Conference Crown Within Reach
Auburn’s victory sets up a crucial stretch of games that will likely determine the SEC regular-season champion. The Tigers face road games at Alabama and South Carolina before hosting Tennessee on February 24 in what could be a conference title showdown.
Tennessee remains atop the SEC standings at 8-1 in conference play following their 83-75 win over Florida earlier Saturday. Auburn trails by just one game with nine conference contests remaining—and the Volunteers have to come to Neville Arena next month.
“We know every game from here on out is going to be a battle,” Broome said. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time and continue to get better.”
The Tigers host Ole Miss Tuesday night at 7 p.m. CT, while Kentucky travels to Vanderbilt for a Wednesday night matchup that feels suddenly more urgent for the Wildcats’ tournament hopes.
