Wednesday, January 12, 2000
Auburn 66, Kentucky 63
Tigers end futility against Wildcats
The Associated Press
AUBURN, Ala. — So this is how No. 4 Auburn responds to adversity.
Criticized by Georgia coach Jim Harrick last week, Doc Robinson and Scott Pohlman responded with two of the biggest plays of their careers Tuesday night.
Robinson hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 24.4 seconds to play and Pohlman added two free throws to help the Tigers snap a 14-game losing streak against Kentucky with a 66-63 win over the 20th-ranked Wildcats.
“Say anything you want, but just don't take shots at my players,” Auburn coach Cliff Ellis said. “There's been some shots at them, but I think they answered them tonight.”
Harrick, when asked Saturday if Auburn (14-1, 2-0 Southeastern Conference) has what it takes to win a national championship, said he didn't know, because a team “needs outstanding guard play to make a run in the NCAA tournament.”
Pohlman and Robinson, who have helped Auburn to a 43-5 mark when both are in the starting lineup, said they didn't give Harrick's comments a second thought.
Robinson finished with 18 points, nine assists and just one turnover.
It was Auburn's first victory over Kentucky (10-5, 1-1) since 1990 and snapped the Wildcats' six-game winning streak.
The Auburn fans then stormed
the court in celebration, making it impossible for the players to leave the floor.
With the score tied at 59 with 2:36 to play, Chris Porter gave the Tigers their first lead since the 11:09 mark on a tip-in. Two free throws by Jamaal Magloire tied it at 61 with 1:12 to play.
The Tigers had a chance to take the lead, but David Hamilton missed two free throws. Daymeon Fishback got the rebound, which was knocked out of bounds by Keith Bogans, giving the Tigers the ball with 42.9 to play.
Robinson then broke free on a screen hit and hit an off-balance 3-pointer to give Auburn a 64-61 lead.
“Big players make big plays,” Ellis said.
Tayshaun Prince then missed a 3 at the other end, but Bogans got the rebound, drew a foul and made two free throws to make it 64-63 with 13.3 to play.
“We couldn't get the shots we needed to go in,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith said. “You don't get everything you want.”
Pohlman, a 77 percent free throw shooter, got the inbound pass and was fouled. He calmly sank both shots.
Kentucky then missed two shots at the other end as time expired.
“We played a great game and executed well, but they just kept making the shots when they had to,” UK guard J.P. Blevins said.
Porter, who scored 12 and 16 points in Auburn's two losses to Kentucky last year, finished with a season-high 22 points and 13 rebounds.
Magloire led Kentucky with 16 points, and Prince finished with 15.
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