College Basketball Roundup : Kenny Walker’s 24 Points Help Kentucky Beat Auburn, 81-71

Forward Kenny Walker scored 24 points, eight in the final five minutes, to lead eighth-ranked Kentucky to an 81-71 victory over Auburn in a Southeastern Conference basketball game Friday night at Lexington, Ky.

Kentucky lifted its record to 18-2 overall and 9-1 in the SEC, while Auburn fell to 12-7 and 6-3.

With 6 1/2 minutes left, the score was tied at 63-63 after Chuck Person scored three baskets to lead Auburn on a 17-4 run.

Walker scored six of Kentucky’s next eight points as the Wildcats went ahead, 71-65, but Auburn came back to trim the lead to 71-69. Kentucky then countered with eight straight points to decide the outcome.

Forward Winston Bennett had 19 points, and guards Ed Davender and Roger Harden added 14 apiece for Kentucky.

Person topped Auburn with 24 points.

San Diego State 69, Air Force 63--Steffond Johnson scored 24 points, and Anthony Watson added 23 for the Aztecs, who raised their record to 8-13 overall and 6-4 in the Western Athletic Conference with the win at Air Force Academy, Colo.