Bruce Pearl likes to talk a lot about history — both acknowledging it and making it. In a season in which Auburn won’t be participating in the postseason, including the SEC Tournament, Pearl’s team had a prime opportunity to make its own history on Saturday at Rupp Arena, where Auburn hadn’t won since 1988 — a 33-year stretch spanning 18 meetings in the Bluegrass State.
After an encouraging 1st half in which Auburn never trailed and led by as many as nine, the Tigers’ opportunity to end their rut at Rupp fell by the wayside. Kentucky caught fire in the 2nd half, and Auburn’s furious late-game rally — spurred by a career effort from JT Thor and a near-career day from Allen Flanigan — wasn’t enough in an 82-80 loss. The Tigers erased a 14-point 2nd half deficit only to come up short in the game’s final minute, failing to complete a rare season sweep of the Wildcats.
Auburn Tigers head basketball coach Bruce Pearl was still lamenting the loss in the postgame press conference. See what he had to say right here. Video is courtesy of the SEC.