Kentucky basketball cruises to 27th win in blowout over Auburn

The pursuit of perfection is still alive for the Kentucky basketball team, as the number one team in the land proved too much to handle yet again, adding to the school’s record-breaking start of 27-0 with a 110 to 75 blowout over Auburn.

This one was all UK from the get-go as the cats bounced off to a 9-0 lead to get things started. Auburn wouldn’t see a shot fall through the basket with the clock running until 9:03 left  to go in the first half, pushing the score at that moment to 30-6 (their first points were scored off of a Trey Lyles goaltending call, and two made free throws by Malcolm Canada for the Tigers). The first half would conclude with a total score of 52-26 in Kentucky’s favor, in what was their second highest scoring first half this season behind their 55 first half points in the outing against UT-Arlington.

The second half went along the same accord. The Tigers tried to get some momentum coming out of halftime, but they couldn’t get rolling fast enough to slow down the Wildcats as Kentucky cruised to their first 100 point basketball game against an SEC team since 2010 (that triple digit game came against Auburn as well) and their highest scoring game in 13 years.

Kentucky Wildcats

For the Tigers, the lone man to be a constant impact performer throughout the night was

who brought home 29 points and four steals. Mason went 9-of-16 from the floor and five of six from behind the arc.

Auburn was out rebounded (lost 44-22), out shot (UK 65%-AU42%), and out fought in the paint (UK 62 points in paint to Auburn’s 24). Not a good night for Bruce Pearl’s squad.

The length and size of Kentucky proved too much for the Tigers, as the Wildcat big men carried the team in most statistical categories. Karl Towns led the way in points and rebounds for Kentucky, the freshman brought home a double-double with 19 points and 10 boards, and to add to his outstanding evening he tacked on four blocks. Other stats leaders include Aaron Harrison with 18 points, Andrew Harrison with 15 points and nine assists, and Dakari Johnson with 13 points and six boards.

Some key points for the Cats include the 43 bench points, 62 points that came in the paint,  12 rebounds that came in the offensive end with 21 second chance points falling through the net. The Wildcats looked as potent as ever in a game that some people thought that they might overlook.

Coach Cal and Bruce Pearl have met before, and have had their close outings, but tonight’s game was all in favor of John Calipari. Calipari and the Wildcats travel down to Mississippi State for their next outing on Wednesday as they look for win number 28.