Alabama beats Auburn in overtime in men's basketball

March 8, 2025 - AUBURN, AL. – The University of Alabama men's basketball team narrowly edged out Auburn in overtime to split the season series.

All-American Johni Broome (Senior forward/center) played lights out in a nip and tuck game where he set a career-high of 34, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Broome hit a three-point shot to give Auburn a one-point lead with a little over a minute to play; but the Tide fought back down the stretch. Broome hit another three-point shot with 14 seconds left in OT to tie the game up. Alabama head basketball Coach Nate Oats then drew up a play to give the Tide's Mark Sears (Senior Guard) a chance to win the game. Sears had only scored 9 points; but he hit a shot at the buzzer to win the game 93 to 91.

"He bailed me out, because that play design wasn't all that great," said Alabama head basketball Coach Nate Oats. "When we needed him late, he came through and delivered."

Sears also had three rebounds and seven assists.

Auburn is coached by Bruce Pearl – the all-time career wins leader in Auburn history.

"Both teams stepped up in a lot of ways and played great basketball," Pearl said. "Johni demonstrated to the country why he should be the national player of the year."

Pearl said that he was disappointed with how his team played defensively.

The Tigers came in as the number one team in the country – a ranking they are likely to lose on Monday; while Alabama came in ranked at number 7.

Alabama freshman Guard Labaron Philon had 15 points, 4 rebounds, and three assists for the Tide. Tide senior Center/Forward Grant Nelson contributed 23 points and 8 rebounds.

Auburn freshman Guard Tahaad Pettiford scored 19 points, had six assists, and four rebounds. Senior Guard Miles Kelly scored 13 points.

Auburn finished the regular season 27 and 4, and 15 and 3 in conference play. Auburn needs a good SEC tournament showing to clinch a number one seed in the NCAA tournament.

Alabama finished the regular season with a 24 and 7 record, 13 and 5 in SEC play. The win over the number one ranked Tigers gives Bama a quality win that will help the Tide get a high seed in the NCAA tournament.

The game concludes the regular season with this game. Auburn had already clinched the SEC regular season championship so will have the number one seed in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. Auburn gets a bye so will play in the quarterfinals Friday at noon CDT against an opponent to be determined. This year's tournament will be in Nashville, Tennessee.

Alabama also earned a bye in the SEC tournament so will not play until the quarterfinals. The plays Friday at 7:00 p.m. against an opponent who will have to play their way into the quarterfinals.

This is the strongest SEC basketball lineup conference wide from top to bottom likely in the history of the conference so anybody in the SEC tournament is capable of beating anybody.

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