Southeastern Conference Roundup

NEW ORLEANS, March 15 (UPI) -- Erik Daniels scored 17 points Sunday as the second-ranked Kentucky Wildcats ran the nation's longest winning streak to 22 games by advancing to the championship of the Southeastern Conference Tournament with a 78-58 whipping of Auburn.

Kentucky (28-3) will try for its 24th SEC title when it meets Mississippi State on Sunday. The Wildcats have won more conference tournaments than the other 11 SEC schools combined and have captured eight of the last 11.

Timmy Bowers and Mississippi State cooled off Louisiana State in the opening game of the semifinal round. Bowers scored a season-high 26 points as the 25th-ranked Bulldogs coasted to a 76-61 victory that snapped LSU's seven-game winning streak.

Auburn threatened to lead at halftime against Kentucky, but the Wildcats' Keith Bogans hit a runner with four seconds to play that forged a 36-36 tie at the intermission.

Bogans also opened the scoring in the second half with a three-pointer. His three-pointer triggered a 10-0 surge that was capped by Daniels' tip-in as Kentucky opened up 56-42 advantage with 13:47 remaining.

After a three-pointer by Auburn's Lewis Monroe, Cliff Hawkins and Gerald Fitch each made a long-range shot for the Wildcats for a 19-point cushion.

Auburn (20-11) must hope for an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament after losing for the ninth time in 14 games. Brandon Robinson's 17 points led the Tigers.

In the opener, Michal Ignerski added 15 points and Mario Austin 14 for Mississippi State (21-8).

"For our team to come into their home atmosphere, even though I heard more 'Dogs than I did Tigers, is a terrific win," said Mississippi State Coach Rick Stansbury, who earned his 100th coaching victory. "I just think our team was the toughest out on the court all afternoon."

The Bulldogs are trying to become the first team to repeat as tournament champions since Kentucky won three straight crowns from 1997-99.

"The opportunity to get this far in the tournament is very special and to make it two years in a row is not easy," Stansbury added. "They came into this with the right focus and the right attitude."

Antonio Hudson, Collis Temple III and Jaime Lloreda each had 11 points for the Tigers (21-10), who made their claim for an at-large in the NCAA Tournament berth by knocking off seventh-ranked Florida on Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals.

"I am extremely proud of this basketball team and what they have accomplished this year," LSU Coach John Brady said. "I know we will be playing Thursday or Friday or Saturday of (next) week."

Bowers made six of nine shots from three-point range and the Bulldogs were 10 of 19 from beyond the arc overall.

"Today I wanted to be more aggressive and I made some shots," Bowers said. "I felt good about myself and that helped me out."

Derrick Zimmerman had 11 assists, and needs six to tie the all-time school record of 510 held by Al Perry.

A layup by Lloreda moved LSU within three points at 45-42 with 16 minutes left. Mississippi State responded with a 10-0 run that included three-pointers by Austin and Bowers.

A layup by Branden Vincent and two free throws by Austin capped the run and the Tigers got no closer than six points the rest of the way.