AUBURN, Ala. — A 19-point Kentucky lead vanished in the second half, whittled to nothing as the marginally pro-Auburn crowd of 11,669 at Beard-Eaves-Memorial got its loudest, briefly giving the Tigers a taste of what big-time SEC basketball is all about.

Unfortunately, Auburn learned something else SEC basketball is all about: Kentucky winning basketball games.

The No. 2 Wildcats survived a scare Saturday, holding off a furious comeback bid by Auburn in a 72-67 win to remain one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the country.

“We were fortunate,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said. “We can’t allow ourselves to get into a rut, because sometimes the other team’s will to win is greater than ours.”

The Tigers (9-9, 0-3 SEC) got a look at a potential game-tying 3-pointer in the final minute, but DeWayne Reed’s shot bounced off the rim with 12 seconds left.

“We played the second half as well as we’ve played all year,” Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said. “Hopefully it gives the kids some confidence. We need the confidence.”

Kentucky standout freshman John Wall, who had an erratic day with 13 points and seven turnovers, hit two free throws at the other end to put the game away.

“The greatest thing for all of us to see is that we’re not close to where we need to be,” Calipari said. “And if our team thinks we are, well, we’re setting ourselves up for some heavy-duty failure. Because every team we play, we’re playing the best.”

DeMarcus Cousins led Kentucky (18-0, 3-0 SEC) with 16 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. Eric Bledsoe added 13 points and Patrick Patterson 12.

Auburn got 19 from Reed, who struggled to a 7-for-25 day from the field. Frankie Sullivan finished with 15 and Lucas Hargrove 10 for the Tigers, who hope the close contest gives them a lift despite starting league play 0-3 for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

“We played against the No. 2 team in the country and it was nose-to-nose,” Reed said. “It don’t get much better than that.”

Auburn seemed overwhelmed in the first half against a Kentucky squad featuring Sports Illustrated cover-boy Wall, a roster full of future NBA players and a carnival-like following that included movie star Ashley Judd, a die-hard fan who sat behind the Wildcats’ bench.

The Tigers fell behind 39-20 after 18 minutes. Kentucky used its length on defense to harass Auburn shooters, especially in the paint.

Reed missed his first 10 shots and was swatted four times by the Wildcats’ big men on drives to lane. They finished with seven blocks.

“They are so long,” Lebo said. “They blocked some where we were already by them, laying it in, and they got a piece of something.”

The Wildcats went into the locker room with a 43-30 lead after making 16 of 27 free throws in the first half. Auburn only had six attempts.

However, the Tigers rallied in the second half, making 14 of their first 19 shots. Reed scored 11 of his 19 points after halftime to get Auburn going. Sullivan drained a 3 with 8:24 to play that tied the game at 60.

But Auburn never took the lead. DeAndre Liggins and Perry Stevenson made layups that put Kentucky back up 64-60.

The Tigers made only two field goals in the final eight minutes.

It was just the latest close game for Kentucky, which allowed Georgia and Florida to hang around in a pair of eight-point victories to open SEC play.

“Coach wants us to play for 40 minutes,” Patterson said. “We have a tendency to play for 25, maybe 30. ... We had a lead and they kept battling and never went away.”