Auburn returns to overthrow Kentucky

AUBURN, Ala. – Allen Flannigan scored 21 points and he and JT Thor hit two clutch free throws each in the last 18 seconds to preserve Auburn’s 66-59 victory over Kentucky on Saturday.

The Wildcats overturned the ball more than 18 times, 12 of them after the break, when Auburn finally found his pace after an unfortunate opening shot, and returned to the lead in the final 10 minutes.

Flannigan (Little Rock Parkview) scored 16 after the break, Devan Cambridge scored five of his 13 points during a 9-0 run for the Tigers (8-6, 2-4) in the middle of the final period when they took the momentum from Kentucky (4-8, 3-2).

Freshman Sharife Cooper scored 8 of his 11 points after the break and made 8 assists.

Flannigan started the crucial 9-0 series with a defensive rebound leading to his bucket that tied the game in 43. Kentucky lost its next possession in an offensive foul and Cambridge dropped a three-point lead to 46-43 in 10: 07 and Auburn never went back.

All nine Wildcats scored with Davion Mitz leading with 11 points, Jacob Toppin added 10, but only two in the second half. Toppin and Dontaie Allen led Kentucky to a 25-21 lead at halftime. Allen went without goals after the break, ending with eight points.

Each team was cold at the start, with Kentucky winning 9-2 despite 4 to 16 shots, just because Auburn was 1 out of 15. The Tigers missed their first eight shots from behind the three-point line.

Since the start of the 2015-16 season, Auburn is 4-4 against the Wildcats. This is the second biggest victory for any SEC team against Kentucky in that period and the first time that Auburn has beaten Kentucky in four consecutive seasons since 1987-90.

DO NOT. 10 TENNESSEE 81,

VANDERBILT 61

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee. – Keon Johnson scored 10 of his 16 points in the second half, taking Tennessee’s No. 10 to victory over Vanderbilt.

John Fulkerson had 15 points and Victor Bailey scored 11 for Tennessee (10-1, 3-1).

Vanderbilt (4-6, 0-4) was led by Dylan Disu’s 19 points. Scotty Pippen Jr. scored 18 points.

With 10 points less in the break, Vanderbilt returned to the game early in the second half. Pippen had seven points and DJ Harvey scored six, with the Commodores closing with four points at 41-37.

So Baily took over. He hit three consecutive points and Tennessee increased his lead to 50-39.

Tennessee stayed five minutes in the first half without a basket, but still led by 10 points, 34-24, at halftime.

DO NOT. 17 MISSOURI 68,

TEXAS A&M 52

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Dru Smith scored 15 points and Missouri’s No. 17 got rid of the rust from an 11-day layoff due to the covid-19 protocols to beat Texas A&M.

Jeremiah Tilmon added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers (8-2, 2-2).

Andre Gordon overcame the Aggies (7-5, 2-4) with 19 points.

The Tigers led 27-24 at the break and used a 21-5 run in the middle of the second half to take control of the game.

After losing most of the first half, Missouri mounted a 12-2 run to close the gap and kept the Aggies goalless for the last four minutes. In that race, Texas A&M went 0-to-11 off the ground.

The Tigers really found their way in the second half, joining a 21-5 run in the middle of the second half to add a cushion to the lead at halftime. Seven of Pickett’s 12 points occurred during the decisive race.

MISSISSIPPI STATE 72,

FLORIDA 69

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Tolu Smith set his career record with 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the state of Mississippi to victory over Florida.

The 6-10 Smith was 11 of 13 shots. His 6-11 front-line partner Abdul Abu added 11 points out of 5 out of 5 shots with 9 rebounds. Mississippi (9-5, 4-2) dominated painting, beating the Gators 52-28.

The Bulldogs led 70-60 with just under a minute to go. Florida’s Tre Mann scored seven points before losing a strange and contested three points at the bell.

Tyree Appleby (Jacksonville) hit all 11 free throws and scored 20 points for the Gators (6-4, 3-3), with Colin Castleton adding 16 points and six blocks after blocking seven in his previous game. He is the first SEC player with more than six blocks in consecutive games since LSU’s Jordan Mickey in the 2014-2015 season.

GEORGIA 78,

MISSISSIPPI 74

OXFORD, miss. – Tye Fagan scored 19 points, Shavir Wheeler added 18 points and nine assists and Georgia held on to Mississippi to win its first conference game of the season and break a four-game losing streak.

Ole Miss (6-6, 1-4) led almost the entire first half, despite going 1 of 13 from the arc and had a one point lead after Romello White’s basket in the first seconds of the second half. But Fagan scored 13 points in a 24-8 run that left the Bulldogs (8-4, 1-4) ahead by 53-38 with 12 minutes remaining.

Devonte Shuler led a 9-0 streak with seven points that placed the rebels within one with 1:27 left, but Wheeler hit four free throws in the next minute and another by Justin Kier provided the final margin with five seconds remaining.

KD Johnson, playing only in his second game after receiving authorization from the NCAA, followed his 21-point debut against Auburn with 14 points against the rebels, including four three points in five attempts. Toumani Camara scored 13 points. Bulldogs hit 75% in the second half and 59% in the game.

LSU 85,

SOUTH CAROLINA 80

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana – Cameron Thomas scored 25 points, Trendon Watford had 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, and LSU came together to beat South Carolina.

The Tigers (10-2, 5-1) lost for almost 34 minutes of playing time, but went on in a 20-4 run during the final eight minutes with Thomas scoring the last six points to make 84-76 with 34 seconds remaining. The Gamecocks (3-3, 1-1) missed 11 consecutive shots from the ground while the game escaped.

Javonte Smart scored 15 points and Darius Days scored 11 for LSU.