Kentucky rolled into Neville Arena on a 2-game losing streak, looking to avoid the first-ever 3-game losing streak under Mark Pope. The Cats came out strong with Malachi Moreno scoring the opening basket, but he landed on an Auburn defender, rolling his ankle. He had to come out, but he came back in a few moments later and showed no worse for wear. The Cats and Tigers traded blows before Auburn made a little push to stretch it out to 6. As expected, it was loud, and it was physical. But could the Cats hold up?
Auburn uses free throw line to stay close in the first
If you are a Kentucky fan, you felt good about being ahead 39-34 at halftime, but you also feel nervous. Auburn went over 5 minutes with no made field goals, and finished the half missing 11 of 13 shots. A team like that at home is going to make a run, and for the lead to only be 4, that's an uneasy lead.
If you are wondering how Auburn stayed close, the answer is the free-throw line. The Tigers were 10-13 from the stripe with Kentucky shooting just 6 total, making 5. Brandon Garrison had 3 fouls in 6 minutes; Otega Oweh, Trent Noah, and Collin Chandler all had 2 in the first half.
The Cats did a good job overall on the boards in the first half, 21-15, but they needed to keep Auburn off the line if they were going to win this one.
Oweh led all scorers with 12 in the opening 20 and had a couple massive dunks.
OTEGA OWEH. MY GOODNESS. 😤 pic.twitter.com/kFw9xs9rB1
— Tristan Pharis (@TristanUda) February 22, 2026
Kentucky opens 2nd half on a heater
Kentucky came out and immediately tried to put the Tigers away. They opened up on a 7-2 run to get the lead all the way up to 9 with 17 minutes to go. But Auburn used a 7-0 run of their own to cut it back to 2 with 14 minutes to go, as it was Kentucky this time going on a drought of their own, over minutes without a made field goal.
Mark Pope saw shot selection start to really decline; they were 3-3 and then all of a sudden 4-15 with several questionable shots. Luckily, Auburn went cold again as well, as they went over 3 minutes without scoring. I'll be honest, it wasn't great defense, as much as it was terrible offense.
Auburn used a 6-0 run to force a Mark Pope timeout with 8:37 to go, tied up at 53. But the timeout didn't work; Malachi Moreno was called for an offensive foul as his elbow caught KeShawn Murphy in the face. The referees went to the monitor and decided it was just a common foul.
Collin Chandler again with a massive steal
Otega Oweh picked up his fourth foul with 8:30 to go, sending Auburn's Murphy to the line where he converted both for his 18th point, 10 in the second half. Collin Chandler committed his 3rd turnover to allow Auburn push the run to 10 before Kentucky got to the line. Mo Dioubate converted two big free throws to stop the bleeding and help Kentucky tie it up.
In a huge moment, Oweh was on the break and found Aberdeen, who was blocked, and then Auburn converted on the other end to retake the lead.
Keyshawn Hall struggled from the floor all night, but when Auburn needed a play, they cleared it out, and Hall went to work on Garrison. He crossed BG over and then got to the rim, making a tough layup while getting fouled. That put Auburn up 4 with just over 4 to go. Oweh then got to the rim but was stuffed, and a jump ball was called. That gave the ball back to the Tigers, who were looking to deliver the knockout blow.
A huge jam by KeShawn Murphy put the Tigers up 6, right before Denzel Aberdeen hit a huge 3. Oweh found another 3, and then a tough layup to tie it right back, but KeShawn Murphy again proved to be the thorn in Kentucky's side.
The big man was 11-34 from deep but confidently let it fly over for a career-high 23. Could the Cats answer again?
Otega Oweh was fouled on a 3-point shot but free throws have been a struggle all year for Oweh. He missed the first before making the next 2. Auburn turned it over and then Kentucky blew two layups, have you heard that one before?
Oweh took it to the rim, and it rolled off right to Garrison, who also saw it rim out. But the very next possession, Collin Chandler got the steal, found a streaking Otega who jammed it home to give the Cats the lead.
Murphy got to his spot but missed from down low, but this time could not convert. Auburn was forced to foul Denzel Aberdeen who calmly made them both.
Tahaad Pettiford drove it right at Aberdeen, who was forced into a foul with 14.3 to go. Pettiford made them both, and Auburn again has to play the foul game, or so we thought.
Collin Chandler was tied up on the end bound but extended his arm and was called for an offensive foul, giving Auburn a shot to take the lead, and they did. Elyjah Freeman got on the offensive glass and gave Auburn a one-point lead.
Now Kentucky will have to go the length of the court with 1.2 left. Collin Chandler tried to find Malachi Moreno again, but this time Murphy got a touch on it, and the Kentucky big man couldn't hold it as he fumbled the ball away without getting a shot off.
Kentucky is in deep trouble.