MENS BASKETBALL

Alabama 79, Auburn 75

BY JOHN ZENOR
ASSOCIATED PRESS

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Mark Sears had 22 points and eight assists and made two free throws with 9 seconds left to seal Alabama’s 79-75 win over No. 8 Auburn, ending the Tigers’ 11-game winning streak.

The Crimson Tide (13-6, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) moved into a tie with their rival atop the league standings with their first win over a ranked team in five tries this season. It was a big rebound from a 20-point loss to No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday.

Auburn (16-3, 5-1) had a chance to tie with 13 seconds left when Alabama fouled Chad Baker-Mazara on a 3-point attempt. Baker-Mazara hit the first two but missed the third, cutting the Tide’s lead to 75-74.

Grant Nelson, who had six points over the final 1:39, grabbed the rebound and was fouled. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl called two timeouts before Nelson went to the line with 12 seconds to play, but he made both.

Alabama then fouled Jaylin Williams before he could launch a potential tying 3-point try — which went off the glass and in — on the other end. He made 1 of 2 and Sears iced it at the other end.

Rylan Griffen came off the bench for only the second time this season but responded with 17 points. He made five 3-pointers, including four in a 4:19 span of the first half.

Nelson had 14 points and 11 rebounds. Latrell Wrightsell Jr. made his second start and had 14 points and nine boards.

Johnni Broome led Auburn with 25 points, 14 rebounds and five blocked shots. Baker-Mazara scored 11 points.

The Tide scored the final nine points of the first half to take a 44-30 lead after trailing by as many as eight. The Tigers missed their last nine 3-pointers, but then came out of the break with their own 9-0 spurt.

BIG PICTURE

Auburn: Had the nation’s fourth-longest winning streak snapped. It was the longest current streak among Power Five teams. Pearl is 2-7 at Coleman Coliseum with Auburn.

Alabama: First team to win three straight in the rivalry since the Tide did it in 2015. Heated up with 11 3s after going 4 of 21 in a loss to Tennessee.

Alabama athletics press release

January 24, 2024