In a thrilling showdown at Auburn’s Neville Arena on Saturday March 8, 2025, the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide edged out the top-ranked Auburn Tigers 93-91 in overtime. The game culminated with Mark Sears sinking a 15-foot floater as the overtime buzzer sounded, sealing a dramatic victory for Alabama.
Alabama’s Grant Nelson delivered a standout performance, leading his team with 23 points and eight rebounds. Clifford Omoruyi and Labaron Philon each contributed 15 points, showcasing the depth of the Crimson Tide’s roster.
Auburn’s Johni Broome was a force to be reckoned with, achieving a career-high 34 points, along with eight rebounds, five blocks, and three steals. Tahaad Pettiford added 19 points and six assists, while Miles Kelly chipped in 13 points for the Tigers.
The game was marked by intense physicality, notably when Auburn’s notorious Chad Baker-Mazara was ejected with 10:52 remaining in regulation after delivering a hard forearm to Alabama’s Chris Youngblood. This followed a prior slap to Youngblood’s face by Baker-Mazara in a chase for a loose ball. No flagrant was called on that play but Youngblood had to leave the floor with an eye cut.
In the overtime period, Philon’s defensive prowess shone as he stole the ball from Pettiford and converted a layup, giving Alabama an 85-83 lead with 2:10 remaining. Broome responded with a three-pointer, but Nelson’s timely putback and Sears’ clutch free throws kept the Crimson Tide ahead.
Despite Broome’s efforts to tie the game at 91 with a corner three-pointer with 14.7 seconds left, Alabama maintained composure. Sears’ game-winning shot as time expired in overtime silenced the Auburn crowd and secured the victory for the Crimson Tide.
Alabama’s shooting efficiency was notable, with the team hitting 52.2% from the field, including 7-of-22 from beyond the arc. Auburn shot 47.9% and connected on 10-of-26 three-point attempts. The Tide earned also its blue-collar basketball mantra by outrebounding the Tigers 41-33.
This victory split the regular-season series between the rivals, with Auburn having won the previous matchup on February 15, 2025. Despite the loss, Auburn secured the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SEC tournament, while Alabama clinched the No. 3 seed. Alabama gets some much needed rest with a 2-game bye and will play on Friday evening against the winner of Kentucky vs. Oklahoma/Georgia.
The intense rivalry between these programs added another memorable chapter with this overtime thriller. Both teams showcased resilience and skill, setting the stage for potential future clashes in the postseason with the college basketball world is hoping to see as many as two more Bama-Auburn epic games – something that could be possible with the SEC tournament seeding and a potential 4th game with deep March Madness runs.
But first…
Up Next:
Auburn: Noon CT on Friday, March 14 vs Auburn or S. Carolina/Arkansas winner
Alabama: Evening game on Friday, March 14 vs Kentucky or Oklahoma/Georgia winner