Rapid reaction: No. 16 Auburn tops LSU, remains unbeaten in SEC play

AUBURN -- Worst case, No. 16 Auburn will be tied for first place with only one other team in the SEC standings after taking care of business against previously league unbeaten LSU on Saturday evening. Auburn improved to 14-2 overall and 3-0 in SEC play with a 93-78 win over the visiting Tigers. LSU drops to 10-6 overall and 2-1 in SEC play. Auburn held a 28-point lead midway through the second half before a furious comeback by LSU made things closer than everyone inside Neville Arena was comfortable with. Previously SEC unbeatens Georgia and Kentucky lost earlier on Saturday, with SEC unbeaten Alabama still slated to play at Mississippi State on Saturday night. The victory propelled head coach Bruce Pearl past Cliff Ellis, who led the Tigers to 186 wins in ten seasons from 1994-95 to 2003-04, to sole possession of second place on the school’s all-time coaching victories list (187). Joel Eaves leads the way with 213 victories over 14 seasons (1949-50 to 1962-63). That's also three straight wins for Auburn over LSU and wins in five of the last seven.