Observations: Florida 63, Auburn 62

A rough first half on offense, a tough second half on defense and another missed chance late added up to a gut punch in Gainesville.

It’s tough to make history.

Auburn basketball has been made well aware of that this season, in the good times and the not-so-good times. Whether it’s reeling off the program’s longest winning streak of the modern era, sweeping both of its top rivals or trying to overcome recent road demons, this storybook campaign has still been a grind.

The Tigers haven’t won at Florida since 1996. Entering Saturday, they had lost 13 straight games in Gainesville. Winning at least a share of the SEC championship would have to take at least one road win in the final three trips away from the Plains, and Auburn wanted to go ahead and grab it now.

But a rough first half on offense, a rough second half on defense and a massive missed opportunity in the final seconds added up to loss No. 14 in a row for Auburn at Florida — a 63-62 defeat that moves the Tigers’ championship race lead to just one game with four to play.

“Florida played well, especially the second half,” Bruce Pearl said. “Give Florida the credi…