the game, being outscored 34-15 in that area.Kentucky: Coach John Calipari sought defensive improvement after allowing 53 percent shooting by UCLA and got it

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Auburns Kamryn Pettway has big, broad shoulders and a knack for finding room to run.So when the 6-foot, 240-pound sophomore had some early success against Mississippi State, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn made sure he got the ball again and again and again.The end result was a career day for Pettway and an easy 38-14 victory for the Tigers over Mississippi State on Saturday. Pettway finished with career highs in rushing yards (169), touchdowns (3) and carries (39).Auburn quarterback Sean White threw for 204 yards and a touchdown, but the most effective thing he did all day was simply turn and had the ball to Pettway, who ran over, around and through an overmatched Mississippi State defense.Hes a beast of a running back, White said. Hes just a tough runner. Hell get the tough yards. It might not always be pretty, but hes a really good asset for us to have.Pettway thrived despite the heavy workload, running for 125 yards and three touchdowns in the first half as Auburn built a 35-0 lead.His role increased after starting running back Kerryon Johnson suffered a right ankle injury in the first quarter and didnt return. Malzahn said he hoped Johnsons injury wasnt serious.Auburn (4-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference) has won three straight and now gets two weeks to rest before facing Arkansas on Oct. 22.We really like the momentum we have, Malzahn said. Weve talked about getting better each week and weve done that. Were in a good spot.Mississippi State (2-3, 1-2) actually had a little momentum in the games opening minutes when Kivon Coman intercepted a deflected pass to give the Bulldogs great field position at the Auburn 19. But five plays later, Westin Graves missed a 28-yard field goal.It only got worse for Mississippi State.Auburn scored touchdowns on five of its next seven drives to take control of the game. By late in the second quarter, boos could be heard from the home crowd as Mississippi States struggling offense took the field.Mississippi States Nick Fitzgerald threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns, but almost all that damage came in the second half when Auburn already had control of the game.I wish there was one thing I could point my finger to and say that was it, Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said. But theres not. It was a lot of things.Fitzgerald also led Mississippi State with 61 yards rushing. Mississippi State faces a quick turnaround -- the Bulldogs have to play at BYU on Friday.Losing is never fun and that kind of loss is pretty depressing I guess, Fitzgerald said. But have your pity party now and tomorrow get back to work.THE TAKEAWAYAuburn: The Tigers showed they might be a factor in the SEC Western Division race after an impressive win. Even after Johnsons injury early in the game, Pettway was able to anchor the running game. White might not be flashy at quarterback, but hes consistent and makes good decisions.Mississippi State: The Bulldogs streak of making the postseason in six straight seasons appears to be in serious jeopardy. The offense doesnt have many playmakers and the defense was overwhelmed by Auburns power running game.POLL IMPLICATIONSAuburn: The Tigers received 46 votes in last weeks rankings and could jump into the top 25 after an impressive road SEC win.UP NEXTAuburn: The Tigers get a week off to rest before a home game against Arkansas on Oct. 22.Mississippi State: The Bulldogs travel to face BYU in a non-conference game on Friday.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP . 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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Bam Adebayo scored 16 points, Malik Monk added 15 and No. 6 Kentucky scored 21 straight points in a first-half run to beat Valparaiso 87-63 on Wednesday night.Needing to rebound after Saturdays upset by then-No. 11 UCLA, Kentucky (8-1) turned a 4-all tie into a 29-9 lead behind that big run over 8:51, holding the Crusaders scoreless for 7 minutes during that stretch. Valparaiso (7-2) shot 23 of 67 from the field (34 percent), including 28 percent in the first half.Derek Willis added 12 points and Isaiah Briscoe 10 for Kentucky, which shot 46 percent after making just 41 percent against UCLA.High-scoring Valparaiso forward Alec Peters scored 16 of his 23 points in the second half for the Crusaders, who had their four-game winning streak snapped eight days after upsetting No. 21 Rhode Island. The nations second-leading scorer coming in (25.4 points per game) went to the locker room briefly in the second half after hurting his right leg but returned to finish off his ninth 20-point effort in as many games.BIG PICTUREValparaiso: The Crusaders havent shot above 50 percent this season and for a while appeared headed to a season low from the field.dddddddddddd They went scoreless for more than 2 minutes several times and couldnt slow Kentucky even with its reserves in the game, being outscored 34-15 in that area.Kentucky: Coach John Calipari sought defensive improvement after allowing 53 percent shooting by UCLA and got it for the most part after a sloppy start. Power forward Wenyen Gabriel started and had two of his career-best three blocks by halftime and had six rebounds. The Wildcats controlled the boards 48-41.POLL IMPLICATIONSKentucky has another game on Sunday against Hofstra, but its Top 10 status appears safe after bouncing back from the UCLA loss.UP NEXTValparaiso: Visits Missouri State on Saturday night.Kentucky: Travels to Brooklyn, New York, for an inaugural meeting against Hofstra on Sunday. ' ' '