Bruce Pearl Cinmeon Bowers kiss

Auburn forward Cinmeon Bowers kisses coach Bruce Pearl on the cheek following the Tigers' 74-68 win against Mississippi State in the SEC Tournament on Wednesday, March 11, 2015. (YouTube/WIAT-TV)

It's not often a player thanks a coach for not playing him.



Auburn forward Cinmeon Bowers, however, did just that Wednesday night at the SEC Tournament. The big man, who was 0-for-6 from the field, gave Bruce Pearl a big smooch on his left cheek following the Tigers' 74-68 victory against Mississippi State in the first round.



Bowers' benching came at two crucial stretches for the Tigers in the second half, who grabbed an 11-point lead with Bowers on the bench. Bowers re-entered the game with Auburn leading 56-47, but Bulldogs went on 16-3 run to grab a 61-59 lead with the big man back on the floor.



Second-year walkon Devin Waddell replaced Bowers in the lineup and the Tigers closed the game with a strong defensive effort to pull off the win.



"Cim will tell you he was as happy sitting on the bench watching Devin play as he was being out there," Pearl told TV reporters after Bowers gave him a big smooch on the left cheek. "He didn't have it in the second half tonight. The good thing is he's fresh for tomorrow. But that's what a team is all about. He's not mad at me because I didn't play him late because he was like, hey, you should have played Devin. Devin was playing well."



"Exactly," Bowers said, according to WIAT-TV. "Team effort."



Waddell played a career-high 16 minutes, including 13 in the second half, and provided four points and four boards. Auburn was plus-10 in efficiency with Waddell on the floor and minus-4 with Bowers in the lineup. Bowers finished with five points (all free throws) and six rebounds in 24 minutes.

Auburn's win was its first at the SEC Tournament since 2009. The Tigers face Texas A&M in the second round Thursday afternoon. The game will start 25 minutes following Alabama-Florida at noon.