This was the 146th-ever meeting between Auburn and Ole Miss, but the first time the two were ranked at the same time. In the historic meeting, No. 13 Auburn cruised to an 11th straight win, beating No. 22 Ole Miss 82-59.

Auburn is now 16-2 overall and in sole possession of the top spot the SEC.

Here are three takeaways from the win:

Auburn takes sole possession of first place in the SEC

For the first time since Auburn clinched the 2021-22 SEC regular season title, Auburn is back in possession of the SEC lead.

In doing so, Auburn has firmly cemented itself in the top tier of this league but the country, as well.

Auburn is ranked in the top 10 in every major computer metric. It will likely be in the top 10 of the Associated Press top 25 come Monday’s new ranking.

Auburn got something tonight it has barely had any chances to get: a ranked win.

Ole Miss is the first ranked team Auburn has played since Baylor. And while it’s fair to question how deserving Ole Miss may be of its rankings given its poor performances against the best teams it has played and its NET ranking outside the top 50, this was a missing piece on Auburn’s resume.

Auburn continues to have the best average margin of victory in the SEC and be ranked in the top 10 nationally.

There aren’t many other ways to put it. Auburn is a favorite if not the favorite in the SEC along with Tennessee and Kentucky. And this team, playing like this, is an elite contender for March.

Auburn’s bench, yet again, is spectacular

Among the biggest catalysts for Auburn’s 11-game streak is the bench.

It was Auburn’s bench lineup that sparked a 14-2 run over a 4:38 stretch in the second half. It’s what turned a comfortable Auburn lead into a rout over a ranked team.

That spurt caused by a lineup made up entirely of Auburn’s bench pushed Auburn to a lead of more than 30 points.

Ole Miss is very top-heavy with its production, but Auburn’s bench outscored Ole Miss’ bench 40-18.

Before Saturday night, Auburn’s bench already averaged the fifth most points per game of anyone in the nation and the most in the SEC.

It’s an Auburn team without a true star, but 11 solid, reliable contributors who have taken on the balance of this team well.

Allen Flanigan returns to Neville Arena

Former Auburn guard Allen Flanigan as well as former Auburn player and coach Wes Flanigan both returned to Neville Arena on Saturday for the first time since leaving for Ole Miss.

The reaction was squarely mixed.

Auburn students booed him during warm-ups. When he was announced during the starting lineups, he was met with a chorus of boos and applause simultaneously.

When the game began, students booed him whenever he touched the ball.

And Auburn’s defense did an impressive job making him and fellow guard Matt Murrell — Ole Miss’ two leading scorers — essentially non-factors.

Flanigan finished with 10 points on 3-10 shooting. Murrell finished with eight points on 3-8 shooting. Both average at least 16 points per game. A thoroughly impressive defensive effort.

It is especially a testament to the job Auburn guard Denver Jones did defensively with a difficult assignment of two productive guards. He defended both at various points. He’s become Auburn’s best defense guard this season.

Matt Cohen covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Matt_Cohen_ or email him at [email protected]