Alabama rolled into Auburn looking for some revenge and got it, 93-91 in overtime.
Alabama didn’t get off to a slow start against Auburn this time, seizing the lead early and opening it up to as much as eight in the first half. Grant Nelson had one of his best offensive halves in Crimson, leading Alabama with 15 points including two of three from beyond the arc. Aiden Sherrell gave Nate Oats 12 critical minutes as well, adding six points and seven rebounds. Both efforts were critical with Cliff Omoruyi on the bench most of the half with foul trouble.
Auburn once again committed to shutting down Mark Sears with Denver Jones plus help, and they effectively held him to only three points. Neither Labaron Philon nor Aden Holloway could get anything going either, but Chris Youngblood stepped up with nine big points in 13 minutes of action. Defensively, Oats elected not to double often on Johni Broome, and he predictably poured in 16 points. The strategy paid off in that Auburn made only four from deep, however, and Alabama took a narrow 45-42 lead into the break.
Auburn came out firing in the second half, grabbing a five point lead backed by a couple of Miles Kelly threes. Alabama kept battling and erased it in short order, thanks in part to an Omoruyi poster job over Broome with the Sears assist.
Aden Holloway, who hadn’t done much against his old team in either game this season, hit a corner three with 11:30 left to stake Alabama to a four point advantage at 61-57. Auburn’s resident loose cannon, senior citizen guard Chad Baker-Mazara, got himself tossed out about a minute later and another Omuruyi dunk expanded the lead back out to eight. Unfortunately Alabama started doing dumb things with the basketball as they have been wont to do, first a turnover by Aiden Sherrell, that really wasn’t his fault as he got stuck with the ball at the top of the key and nobody helped, then a bad miss from three by Holloway, then a terrible decision by Sears to throw an alley-oop into three white jerseys.
The lead was squandered as a result, and a seven minute fight to the finish was on. Alabama kept making mistakes, but two big threes from Nelson and Philon kept them in the game. With a one point lead and 2:30 to play, Jarin Stevenson grabbed a rebound off of a missed three and, rather than find an outlet man, decided to try and play point guard. For some unknown reason he picked up his dribble and left his feet in the backcourt before throwing the ball away in one of the most baffling basketball plays you will ever witness. Broome recovered and called timeout.
Chris Youngblood subsequently fouled Tahaad Pettiford in the act of shooting a three, but he mercifully made only one of the three shots to tie the game. Nelson immediately went right at Broome and scored for a two point lead. The Tide managed to get a stop on the other end and went back to the well with Nelson, but this time Grant slipped and was called for a travel. Broome scored on a well run pick and roll, and it was a tie game at 79 with under a minute left.
Oats called timeout and went with the offroad package to Mo Dioubate, but Dylan Carswell defended it well and Auburn got to hold for the last shot. They predictably went to Broome against Nelson, and for whatever reason Johni went for the fallaway jumper with plenty of time and space to back Grant down. He missed, and the game was headed to overtime. Omoruyi started the extra period despite being saddled with four fouls.
Jones started overtime with a floater which Philon tried to match and missed, but Cliff slammed home. Broome scored on the other end, then Cliff slammed home yet another and the game remained tied halfway through overtime. Philon’s elite hands then showed up with a pickpocket of Pettiford which he converted into two at the other end for the 85-83 advantage and two minutes to play. Broome knocked down his first three of the game, then Nelson stuck a follow up for a one point advantage and one minute left.
Sears set a great pick for Philon on the following possession and Miles Kelly plowed right through him, sending the senior to the line. He made both and Alabama had the 89-86 lead with 41 seconds left. Unfortunately Pettiford got off another floater with very little resistance to pull within one with 33.8 left. Auburn quickly fouled Philon in the backcourt and he too made both, only for Broome to hit yet another three to tie things right back up with 14.7 seconds left.
Philon brought the ball up the court for the Tide and got it to Sears, who got into the lane and made a floater of his own at the buzzer to send Alabama home happy.
This was far from Mark’s best game, but what could be better than making Auburn trash throw trash on their own home court for his last regular season act in a Crimson jersey? Nelson and Cliff both played with their hair on fire as well. The version of Alabama we saw last time out can go home early in a couple of weeks, but the one we saw today can cut down the nets. Fewer mistakes would be welcomed, however.
This one was an all-out war, and the good guys came out on top. A one seed may very well be back in play.
Roll Tide.
