THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE THREAD

No. 9 Texas A&M coasts past Savannah State 113-66

Texas A&M was bigger, stronger and deeper than Savannah State, so the ninth-ranked Aggies' inside dominance came as no surprise.

A&M also beat the Tigers at the outside shooting on which Savannah State relies, and that combination produced a 113-66 blowout Wednesday night.

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Knox, Diallo lead No. 8 Kentucky past Virginia Tech 93-86

Needing every point possible to compete with high-scoring Virginia Tech, No. 8 Kentucky got offense from all over the court off numerous opportunities created by a disruptive defense.

Kevin Knox scored 21 points, Hamidou Diallo added 20, including a big 3-pointer with 50 seconds remaining, and the Wildcats outlasted Virginia Tech 93-86 on Saturday for their most significant victory this season.

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No. 8 Texas A&M barely beats Northern Kentucky 64-58

No. 8 Texas A&M has a goal of driving three hours in late March to play in the Final Four in San Antonio.

The Aggies found out Tuesday night they will need star defenders Admon Gilder and Robert Williams nearly every step of the way to achieve that lofty objective.

Senior guard Duane Wilson scored 16 points and A&M escaped with a 64-58 victory over Northern Kentucky, minus Gilder and Williams and two more role players.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987253

 

No. 21 Tennessee squeaks past Furman 66-61

Tennessee delivered the last-minute plays it failed to make three days earlier.

The 21st-ranked Volunteers needed that kind of late production to avoid a second straight loss

Grant Williams scored a tiebreaking basket with 54 seconds left Wednesday night as Tennessee outlasted Furman 66-61 to snap the Paladins' five-game winning streak. Tennessee barely survived a game that featured 13 ties and 14 lead changes.

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Short-handed Texas A&M beats Buffalo 89-73

No. 8 Texas A&M continues taking care of business on the court as Southeastern Conference play approaches, including the Aggies' 89-73 victory over Buffalo on Thursday night.

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No. 16 Kentucky blows out Louisville 90-61 in rivalry game

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and his Kentucky teammates knew they were capable of a dominant performance. Facing archrival Louisville motivated the No. 16 Wildcats to go out and prove it.

Gilgeous-Alexander came off the bench to score a career-high 24 points, including 17 after halftime, PJ Washington added 16 and Kentucky used several runs to blow out rival Louisville 90-61 Friday in the annual showdown for Bluegrass supremacy.

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John Petty, Alabama topple No. 5 Texas A&M 79-57

Avery Johnson saw his Alabama players hit shots, divvy the scoring load four ways and basically do the things they didn't last time out.

John Petty made five 3-pointers and scored 18 points to help the Crimson Tide knock off No. 5 Texas A&M 79-57 on Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.

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Macon, Barford lead Arkansas past No. 19 Tennessee in OT

Daryl Macon came back to Arkansas for his senior year for a number of reasons, from bettering his professional prospects to improving on a second-round NCAA Tournament appearance last season.

None of those reasons meant as much to Macon as the environment in Bud Walton Arena on Saturday.

Led by Macon's career-best 33 points, the Razorbacks (11-2, 1-0) rallied for a wild 95-93 overtime win over No. 19 Tennessee to open Southeastern Conference play. They did so despite trailing by nine points late in regulation, thanks in large part to Macon's 13 points in the extra period -- along with a career-high 28 points from his backcourt partner, Jaylen Barford.

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No. 16 Kentucky rallies past Georgia 66-61 in SEC opener

A night in which No. 16 Kentucky seemingly couldn't make any shots didn't stop the Wildcats from trying, especially with the lead within reach against Georgia.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander changed everything with one timely 3-pointer that freed things up for everything to fall when they needed them.

The freshman guard had another big game off the bench with five of his 21 points coming down the stretch, and Kentucky added several clutch late baskets to rally past Georgia 66-61on Sunday night in its Southeastern Conference opener.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987284

 

Auburn beats No. 23 Tennessee 94-84 for 11th straight win

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl downplayed the personal impact of earning his first win at Tennessee since his own six-year stint with the Volunteers.

He preferred to discuss the giant step his new team took in earning its 11th straight victory.

Bryce Brown and Jared Harper each scored 18 points Tuesday night as Auburn erased an early 14-point deficit to beat No. 23 Tennessee 94-84 in its Southeastern Conference opener. Auburn (13-1, 1-0 SEC) extended its longest winning streak since a 14-game run in 1999-2000.

Read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987286

 

Mississippi St. tops No. 22 Arkansas 78-75

Junior Quinndary Weatherspoon joined Mississippi State a couple of years ago and was a big reason for the program's push toward respectability in the Southeastern Conference.

His brother Nick Weatherspoon came in this year, and now the Bulldogs look poised for even better things.

The Weatherspoons both scored 22 points in Mississippi State's come-from-behind 78-75 win over No. 22 Arkansas on Tuesday night. The victory snapped the program's 18-game losing streak to ranked opponents.

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Koulechov helps Florida cruise past No. 11 Texas A&M 83-66

After No. 11 Texas A&M lost its second straight game on Tuesday night to Florida while playing without three starters coach Billy Kennedy had a message for upcoming opponents.

"People better beat us now while we've got guys injured and making mistakes," he said. "Because I really believe we're going to get this team right because we've got a good group and we've got a talented group and we're going to learn from it."

Egor Koulechov scored 19 points and Keith Stone added 18 as Florida built a big lead early and cruised to the 83-66 victory.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987287

 

Washington lifts No. 17 Kentucky past LSU, 74-71

Kentucky coach John Calipari was grateful for P.J. Washington's forceful presence in the locker room and under the basket in the second half.

Washington scored 14 of his 18 points in the second half, and No. 17 Kentucky held off feisty LSU 74-71 on Wednesday night.

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Waters lifts LSU over No. 11 Texas A&M 69-68

Minutes after freshman Tremont Waters gave LSU a win by sinking an off-balance 3-pointer with 1 second left on Saturday, he was asked if he revels in the pressure of such moments.

Before the 19-year-old could answer, his coach Will Wade jumped in.

"Yes, he does," Wade said as both the coach and his star player smiled.

Waters scored 21 points, capped by the game-winner, to lift LSU to a 69-68 win over No. 11 Texas A&M.

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No. 23 Tennessee rallies to beat No. 17 Kentucky 76-65

There was nothing at all casual about Tennessee's performance Saturday night.

Admiral Schofield had 20 points and nine rebounds and No. 23 Tennessee rallied in the second half to beat No. 17 Kentucky 76-65 and end a two-game skid.

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Auburn beats No. 22 Arkansas

Auburn's 88-77 win over No. 22 Arkansas on Saturday meant a trip to the record book.

Mustapha Heron scored 17 points and Auburn fended off a late comeback to secure its 12th consecutive win.

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Murray rallies No. 22 Auburn over Ole Miss 85-70

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl saw his team taking what Mississippi's defenders were giving, and that wasn't good enough. So in the second half, the Eagles tried to take over by simply taking charge.

Desean Murray had 16 points and eight rebounds, and No. 22 Auburn erased a ten-point halftime deficit to beat Mississippi 85-70 on Tuesday night.

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No. 21 Kentucky rallies late, holds off Texas A&M 74-73

Challenged by coach John Calipari to show toughness and urgency, No. 21 Kentucky displayed both against a Texas A&M squad determined to win its first Southeastern Conference game.

The short-handed, young Wildcats earned a hard-fought victory with some timely plays on both ends.

PJ Washington made a steal that led to Kevin Knox's go-ahead layup with 2:28 left, then added four points down the stretch to help Kentucky rally past Texas A&M 74-73 on Tuesday night.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987301

 

No. 24 Tennessee rallies from 10 down, beats Vandy 92-84

Grant Williams gave a glimpse of just how dominant he can be inside when avoiding foul trouble.

Williams scored a career-best 37 points as No. 24 Tennessee rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half to beat Vanderbilt 92-84 on Tuesday night.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987299

 

No. 21 Kentucky Wildcats win 2nd straight, beats Vandy 74-67

Kentucky coach John Calipari decided the time had to come to make his point to freshman Kevin Knox on attacking the basket -- even at the risk of a loss.

The freshman showed Saturday he's listening.

Knox scored five straight points to put No. 21 Kentucky ahead to stay in a 74-67 victory over Vanderbilt.

read more http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=400987309