Kentucky Endures Crushing Home Loss to No. 1 Auburn, 94-78

In a game that will long be remembered at Rupp Arena, the Kentucky Wildcats fell to No. 1 Auburn by a 16-point margin on Saturday afternoon—a defeat that ranks among the worst in the arena’s storied history.

Mark Pope’s 17th-ranked Wildcats were thoroughly outplayed as the visiting Tigers dominated from start to finish. Auburn led by double digits throughout the second half, and the final score of 94-78 ties for the sixth-largest home loss in the venue, which hosted its very first Kentucky men’s basketball game in November 1976. Despite a remarkable overall record of 675-88 (an 88.5% winning percentage) at Rupp, this game added another sting to a long list of painful setbacks.

A Storied List of Heartbreaking Home Losses

Saturday’s result now joins some of the most notorious defeats in UK men’s basketball history at Rupp Arena:

• LSU 76, Kentucky 41 (Jan. 18, 1987):
  The worst loss in Rupp history came when LSU overwhelmed the Wildcats by 35 points, holding Kentucky to just 25% shooting. With 26 turnovers, only James Blackmon managed to score in double figures (14 points), marking a day that still haunts UK fans.
• Indiana 75, Kentucky 52 (Dec. 20, 1988):
  Under Bob Knight, the Hoosiers stifled Eddie Sutton’s squad by 23 points. With only Chris Mills reaching double figures for Kentucky, Indiana’s balanced scoring—despite making only two 3-pointers—secured the win. This marked Sutton’s final season as head coach.
• Alabama 85, Kentucky 65 (Jan. 12, 2021):
  In the toughest home loss during John Calipari’s era, Nate Oats’ Alabama squad dismantled the Wildcats by 20 points, capitalizing on a barrage of 3-pointers and an uncharacteristically sparse crowd of 3,075 during a COVID-impacted season.
• Pittsburgh 85, Kentucky 67 (Nov. 22, 1991):
  In a Preseason NIT matchup, Pitt routed the Wildcats by 18 points. Despite Jamal Mashburn scoring 26 points, Kentucky’s 20 turnovers and poor support from the rest of the team couldn’t overcome Darren Morningstar’s 27-point performance for Pittsburgh.
• Arkansas 105, Kentucky 88 (Jan. 25, 1992):
  A 17-point loss saw six Razorback players score in double figures, while Deron Feldhaus and John Pelphrey each managed 22 points for Kentucky. A fun fact from this game: Feldhaus’ son is now emerging as a high school basketball star.
• Gardner-Webb 84, Kentucky 68 (Nov. 7, 2007):
  One of the most embarrassing losses in Billy Gillispie’s brief tenure occurred when mid-major Gardner-Webb blew the Wildcats away by 16 points, never trailing after an explosive 14-0 start. This upset remains a low point, especially considering Gillispie earned SEC Coach of the Year honors that season.
• Auburn 94, Kentucky 78 (March 1, 2025):
  On Saturday, the visiting Tigers took control early in the second half, with senior guard Miles Kelly lighting up the scoreboard—racking up 30 points, including a career-high nine 3-pointers. Notably, this was Auburn’s first win in Lexington since January 1988.

A Tough Blow Off the Court

The loss was compounded by more grim news from the postgame press conference, where Mark Pope announced that Kentucky’s fifth-year guard Jaxson Robinson would be out for the remainder of the season with a right wrist injury. This announcement left Wildcats fans and the program reeling from a double dose of disappointment on what turned out to be a truly rough day for UK basketball.

Despite the sting of Saturday’s defeat, Kentucky’s long and storied history at Rupp Arena—a venue with 763 games under its belt—remains decorated with many memorable wins. Yet, for now, the 16-point loss to Auburn will be remembered as one of the hardest falls in the arena’s history.

For more in-depth coverage of this game, click below to read additional reports from the Herald-Leader and Kentucky.com.