In a highly anticipated clash between the top-ranked Auburn and No. 2 Alabama, the Tigers rolled through the Tide on Saturday at Coleman Coliseum, securing a 94-85 win.
Auburn never relinquished its lead on the way to picking up its 14th Quad I win on the season.
Here are the biggest takeaways from the game:
Auburn weathers the storm
Auburn ripped off a quick 13 points to start off the second half behind a 3-of-3 start from deep by Denver Jones and extended its lead to 14 points in nearly eight minutes of play in the half. The highest-scoring offense in the nation then heated up with Mark Sears at the center of a 10-0 Alabama run to cut the Tigers lead to just three.
With the lead up for grabs, a battle-tested Auburn squad answered with a 7-0 run of its own to silence the home crowd and shoot out to another double-digit lead in the final moments.
3-point shooting the difference
It’s the name of the game for Nate Oats’ squad as they live and die by the three ball, shooting 46.9% of their shots from beyond the arc. Averaging 29.8 attempts from 3-point land per game, Alabama connected on just five of its 26 attempts. The Tide's 19% clip from deep was their lowest of the season.
But the visiting Tigers made their living from deep, connecting on 12 3-pointers and shooting a 40% clip. The Tigers started 4-of-6 from deep, and their first three baskets came from beyond the arc.
Jones led the way with a 3-of-5 performance from deep. Johni Broome, Miles Kelly, Chaney Johnson and Chad Baker-Mazara each chipped in two apiece.
Auburn nearly hangs 100
It was a battle of the highest scoring offense in the nation (Alabama) and the most efficient offense in the nation (Auburn). It was a high-scoring affair that saw the Tigers nearly hang 100 as their offense rarely sputtered.
Auburn shot 46% from the field, and six Tigers scored over 13 points with Broome leading the efforts with a 19-point, 14-rebound double-double. Jones surged in the second half and scored 13 of his 16 points in that period. After scoring six points in the Tigers’ last two outings, Baker-Mazara broke out of his shell on the big stage with 15 points.
It was a much-needed, complete performance for Auburn’s offense.
Tigers overcome foul trouble
Baker-Mazara and Dylan Cardwell both watched the final minutes from the bench as they both committed five fouls apiece. Alabama is seventh nationally averaging 26.5 free throw attempts and it shot 26 from the line on Saturday.
The Crimson Tide were in the bonus at the 9:20 mark in the first half and double bonus at the 4:23 mark. Again in the second half, Alabama was in the bonus with nine minutes left to play.
A flagrant on Baker-Mazara removed him from the game and was a potential momentum swinger with time dwindling away in a single-digit game. However, the Tigers overcame the late fouls with clutch free throws from Tahaad Pettiford and Jones down the stretch.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email logan.fowler@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
