The Bodda Getta

Kentucky pulled away in the second half to beat Auburn 75-53 at Auburn Arena on Saturday night. Story to come.

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Greetings from Auburn Arena. ...

* Late Auburn All-America Mike Mitchell's jersey is being retired. His family is on the court to accept a framed jersey from athletics director Jay Jacobs. Charles Barkley, Wesley Person and John Mengelt, whose jerseys are also retired, are on the court as well.

I am one over the few guys still covering Auburn who covered Mike Mitchell. He was an unbelievably good player.

* Auburn players take the floor to a thunderous roar from the crowd. The students always turn out at Auburn Arena, but tonight they have a bit more help.

* It's 4-4 at the first media timeout with 14:31 left. Neither team is shooting well, but it's a rough and tumble game. Ashaud Dixon-Tatum, off the bench, has a dunk putback and rejected a shot by Nederens Noel, Kentucky's shot-blocking specialist. Mark it down: Dixon-Tatum will be a force to be reckoned with before this season is over. Heck, he already is.

* Auburn is getting wide-open 3-point shots, but they aren't falling.

* Chris Denson, out for four weeks with a stress fratcure, is in the game.

* Both teams are playing very hard and neither team can make a shot. Auburn leads 6-4 at the media timeout with 11:28 left.

* Auburn is 3-for-19 and Kentucky is 3-for-15from the field, which is why it's 6-6 with 9:44 left.

* Two free throws give Kentucky an 8-6 lead.

* Chubb hits a layup, Payne gets a steal, is fouled and hits one free throw. It's 10-9 with 8:23 left.

* Kentucky finds some rhythm and gets out to a 16-11 lead at the media timeout with 7:01 left.

* Auburn has had open shots inside, open shots from 3, open shots all over the place and has missed and missed and missed.and trails 18-13 with 5:10 left.

* Josh Wallace, the shortest player on the floor, goes to the basket, scores and is fouled. Timeout with 4:53 left. Wallace misses. It's 18-15.

* Kentucky leads 20-15 at the last media timeout of the first half with 3:52 left.

* Dixon-Tatum gets a putback, Sullivan drives to the basket for two and is fouled. His free throw slump continues. It's 27-23 with 44 seconds left.

* Poythress hits a free , Kentucky rebounds and gets a dunk. Just like that it's 30-23.

* Dixon-Tatum goes to the line with 6.3 seconds left. Calipari whines at the officials way too much.

* Dixon hits wo to make it 30-25.

* Kentucky turns it over with 4.8 seconds left. Sullivan is knocked down on a 3-point shot and nothing is called. Half is over.

SECOND HALF

* Kentucky jumps out 37-27 with 16:52 left. Not saying they are wrong, but calls are certainly not going Auburn's way.

* Kentucky isn't missing much now. The Wildcats lead 44-33 at the media timeout with 14:54 left.

* Jordan Price is in the game and misses the first 3-pointer he tries.

* A three-point play gives Kentucky a 51-37 lead with 13:06 left.

* It's starting to get away from the Tigers now. Kentucky leads 55-39 at the media timeout with 11:47 left. If they are going to make a run, it has to start soon.

* It's a blowout now. Kentucky leads 63-45 wth 7:30 left.

* Wow, and I thought Auburn has a chance. Kentucky leads 71-45 with four minutes lft. Auburn is 0-for-16 on 3-point shots. Bad night for the home team.