No. 6 Florida beats top-ranked Auburn 90-81 and ends the Tigers' 14-game winning streak
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Walter Clayton Jr. scored 19 points and Alex Condon added 17 as No. 6 Florida rallied from an early deficit and beat No. 1 Auburn 90-81 Saturday, ending the Tigers' 14-game winning streak.
Florida (20-3, 7-3 Southeastern Conference), down by 10 points early, built a 10-point advantage by the end of the first half and held off Auburn in the second half for its second victory over a top-ranked team this season. Florida beat then-No. 1 Tennessee 73-43 on Jan. 7.
The Gators shot 13 for 33 from 3-point range, while Auburn shot 32% from long distance, finishing 7 for 22.
Tigers leading scorer Johni Broome, a fifth-year senior and preseason Associated Press All-American who is considered a contender for national player of the year, had 18 points and 11 rebounds as Auburn (21-2, 9-1) had its nine-game conference winning streak halted.
Miles Kelly scored 22 points, Tahaad Pettiford added 14 and Chaney Johnson 13 for the Tigers.
Florida: The victory is a signature road win for Todd Golden, whose Gators hadn’t played their best away from Gainesville this season.
Auburn: The Tigers have been excellent on defense at home, but struggled to slow down the Gators’ offensive balance.
Florida was down by six points with 5:58 left in the first half before going on a 14-2 run and taking control of the game. The Gators scored 23 of the final 30 points before halftime.
Florida hit 13 3-pointers in the win. The Gators had averaged 7.7 3s over their last three games — victories over Vanderbuilt and Georgia and a loss at Tennessee.
Both teams are back in action on Tuesday. Florida travels to No. 22 Mississippi State. Auburn is at Vanderbilt.
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