After a year of waiting, Anfernee McLemore's patience paid off big time for Auburn tonight.
In Auburn's upset 77-70 overtime victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, McLemore took over in the overtime period.
McLemore scored four of his eight points in overtime and ended Kentucky's hopes of advancing with the game-sealing block with 10 seconds remaining.
He finished with an all-around solid stat line, showing he can do a little bit of it all for Auburn. The forward finished with eight points, five rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
The big-time game from McLemore is just what Auburn needed, especially with fellow forward Chuma Okeke out for the remainder of the tournament with a torn ACL that he suffered against North Carolina on Friday.
Not only did Auburn need a big game like this from McLemore, but McLemore wanted it too.
McLemore understands what it's like to be unable to help his team when they need it most because of injury. He missed out on the postseason last year after suffering a gruesome leg injury during the SEC schedule.
"We knew that Chuma wanted us to come out and play hard," McLemore said. "We all knew it would be big game, and we had to do all we can to come out and play ready.”
Entering overtime, McLemore had struggled in the second half to find his groove offensively. After a hot first half with four points, he was 0-of-4 from the field in the second and picked up two personal fouls in 13 minutes in the second half. He had significantly contributed rebounding-wise though in the second half with four rebounds.
In overtime, McLemore picked it up offensively going a perfect 2-for-2 from the field and later helping seal the game for Auburn with his clutch block on Kentucky guard Keldon Johnson with 10 seconds left and Kentucky down four.
The block was clean, and all Auburn's Jared Harper had to do was sink both free throws to put Auburn up by six and out of reach for Kentucky -- which Harper did.
Auburn is now headed to the first Final Four appearance in school history and will need guys like McLemore to step up and keep contributing once again. Auburn faces Virginia on Saturday, April 6, at 5:09 p.m. CST on CBS.
"I don’t even know how to put it in words," McLemore said. "I’m so happy right now. I always dreamed I would get to the Final Four. This feels amazing.”
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