TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (EETV) – Auburn Men’s Basketball stayed in state this weekend, traveling up to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide for a highly-anticipated No. 1 vs No. 2 showdown. After the dust settled, the Tigers emerged victorious 94-85, securing Bruce Pearl's second win in a top-two matchup.
Auburn came out firing, taking an early 9-0 lead thanks to a Miles Kelly triple and two threes from big man Johni Broome. Alabama punched back, though, trading possessions and then sparking a 9-0 run of its own to draw within one, 14-13. The Auburn response came from Chad Baker-Mazara, who went on a 6-0 solo run to extend the TIgers’ lead to 20-13.
The first half remained a game of quick spurts, with the two squads exchanging small runs of four or five points each until the break. Though, when the buzzer sounded, it was Auburn holding a 42-33 lead. The Tigers seemed to have an answer for each attempt by Alabama to make a run, whether through defense or shotmaking of their own.
At the half, it was easy for anyone looking at a box score to see the impact players on offense for Auburn. Johni Broome and Chaney Johnson each had 12 points, Chad Baker-Mazara had eight, and no other Auburn player had more than three.
As the second half began, it was clear that the Alabama offense appeared to have woken up. The Tide were just six points shy of doubling their first half total in ten minutes, trailing Auburn just 63-60 as the game entered its final ten minutes. Alabama then tied the game, Mark Sears drilling two threes before a Grant Nelson dunk drew the teams even at 65.
Tahaad Pettiford and Chris Youngblood then traded threes, tying the game again at 68. From that point, the Tigers pulled away and never looked back. Chad Baker-Makara, Tahaad Pettiford, and Miles Kelly led the scoring over the final five minutes to lock down the win, something that pleased Auburn head Coach Bruce Pearl.
“We made 8 out of our last 10 field goals,” Coach Pearl said. “That’s how you close out a game.”
Auburn’s leading scorers on the night told a tale of two halves. While it was Broome, Johnson, and Baker-Mazara in the first half, the second half was controlled by the Auburn guards. Denver Jones led the second half scoring with 13 points, Tahaad Pettiford had 12, and Miles Kelly had 11.
After the full 40 minutes, the Auburn faithful looked up at the scoreboard to find six Tigers with 13 or more points, a staggering offensive output. Broome led the scoring with 19 points, which he paired with a team-high 14 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season.
The other scorers in double digits for the Tigers were Denver Jones with 16 points, Miles Kelly and Chad Baker-Mazara with 15 each, Chaney Johnson with 14, and Tahaad Pettiford with 13.
The game was one with enormous implications for later in the season, as Auburn retakes sole possession of first place in the SEC with the win. For those who grew up watching basketball in the state, that could sound almost impossible, and it seems that no one is happier with that change than Coach Pearl.
“I think the thing I’m proudest of is that all the eyes of college basketball were on the state of Alabama and the SEC,” Coach Pearl said. “You never know if a game would live up to the hype. We prepared well and executed well early.
Auburn’s next game will be back home in Neville Arena on Wednesday against John Calipari and Arkansas, and you can bet the Tigers will be ready for it. Just ask their leading scorer.
“We’re gonna enjoy [the win] for a little bit,” Broome said. “But we’re gonna have to move on soon to a good Arkansas team.
For now, though, Auburn and its fans can enjoy what is, at least by ranking, the biggest win in Iron Bowl of Basketball history.
