Auburn coach Bruce Pearl: ‘When you beat Kentucky, it’s significant’

Beating Kentucky is a big deal for any program, but Auburn’s 75-70 victory on Saturday had a bit more magnitude. The Tigers snapped their 18-game losing skid to the Wildcats and secured their first win over a ranked opponent since 2012.

Coach Bruce Pearl also scored his biggest victory at Auburn by beating the 14th ranked Wildcats.

Pearl: When you beat Kentucky … it's significant.

— Tom Green (@AUBlog) January 16, 2016

The Tigers were carried by junior guard Kareem Canty, who dropped 26 points and sank five 3-point field goals. The Harlem, N.Y., native said Kentucky was the program he always looked up to.

Kareem Canty said where he grew up, you dream of two things: Playing for UK or Duke, or having a chance to play against them.

— Tom Green (@AUBlog) January 16, 2016

Auburn had been looking up at Kentucky atop the SEC for the past 16 years as well. Pearl said his team was cognisant of the program’s drought against Kentucky and said his team was motivated to snap the skid.

Pearl: I thought they played for Auburn tonight. They knew how many years it had been since Auburn beat Kentucky

— Tom Green (@AUBlog) January 16, 2016