January 20, 1999
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) – Heshimu Evans broke out of a slump with 20 points andnine rebounds as No. 7 Kentucky handed No. 7 Auburn its first loss of theseason, 72-62 Wednesday night.
Auburn’s first defeat after a 17-0 start left No. 1 Connecticut (16-0), a70-68 overtime winner Wednesday over Miami, as the only undefeated team inDivision I.
Kentucky (16-4, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) avoided falling two games behind Auburn (17-1, 5-1) in the SEC title chase.
Evans had struggled since being moved to shooting guard when the Wildcatswent to a bigger lineup in late December. Mired in a 15-of-42 shooting slump,he had not scored in double figures in Kentucky’s last seven games.
With center Jamaal Magloire on the bench in street clothes, suspended for acurfew violation and a technical foul in Kentucky’s last game, it was back to asmaller lineup for Kentucky coach Tubby Smith – and back to the small forwardspot for Evans.
He responded with 6-of-10 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-4 from3-point range, and led the team in rebounds, including four on offensiveboards.
Wayne Turner had 14 points, Michael Bradley 12 and Desmond Allison 10 forthe Wildcats, who had lost three of eight games coming in. The worst 3-pointshooting team in the SEC, Kentucky was 7-of-18 from behind the arc.
Chris Porter, Auburn’s high-impact transfer from Chipola (Fla.) JuniorCollege, led the Tigers with 16 points on 6-of-19 shooting. Scott Pohlman andJay Heard each had 14 points, while Porter and center Mamdou N’diaye led Auburnwith 10 rebounds each.
Overall, Auburn shot 24-of-71 from the floor, compared with 26-of-46 for theWildcats. With a 40-38 edge, Kentucky was only the second team this season tooutrebound the Tigers.
Evans’ performance was easily his best since scoring 31 points in Kentucky’s103-91 victory over Maryland on Dec. 12 – the last time a higher-ranked andundefeated team came into Rupp Arena to play the Wildcats.
The change in the 6-foot-6 senior, who has said he is more comfortableplaying with his back to the basket, was evident from the opening moments, whenhe hit consecutive 3-pointers to give Kentucky the early lead.
Auburn tied the score at 16 on Pohlman’s 3-pointer with 6:19 remaining inthe first half, but Kentucky closed the half with a 15-6 run. Allison, afreshman, scored all of his career-high 10 points in the stretch, including two3-pointers. The second came from the right corner with six seconds left in thehalf and gave Kentucky a 31-22 lead.
In the second half, the Wildcats pushed the lead to 44-29 after Evans’ layupwith 14:21 remaining. Evans’ 20-footer with 9:33 remaining gave the Wildcats a52-39 lead and brought the Rupp Arena crowd to its feet.
Auburn’s 17-0 record was its best at this point in 40 years. In 1958-59, theTigers started 19-0 and were ranked No. 2 in the country when they came intoLexington’s Memorial Coliseum on Feb. 21 and lost 75-56 to the third-rankedWildcats.
