Crimson Chaos: Alabama Basketball Downs Auburn in Thrilling Comeback, Clinches Regular-Season SEC Crown

Trailing by as much as 17 points with 10 minutes left in the game, the Crimson Tide bounced back to overtake and overcome the Tigers in overtime.

Author:
Joey Blackwell
Updated:
Mar 2, 2023 12:09 AM EST
Original:
Mar 1, 2023

In this story:

Alabama Crimson Tide

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — After trailing by as much as 17 points with just over 10 minutes left in the game, No. 2 Alabama basketball conducted a thrilling comeback to overtake the Auburn Tigers and win 90-85 in overtime.

The win clinched the Southeastern Conference regular-season title for the Crimson Tide as well as completed the season sweep for Alabama over Auburn.

"It was a big night for us," a grinning Nate Oats said after the game. "It was the Auburn-Alabama game — we expect it to be a great game. Bruce [Pearl] had his guys ready to go."

After Auburn jumped out to a 7-2 lead to start the game, Alabama was forced to play keep-up for the remainder of the first half. However, the Tigers didn’t make it easy for the Crimson Tide.

Auburn shot 54 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes, including a solid 6-of-8 from beyond the arc. Alabama, on the other hand, was experiencing offensive difficulties all over the floor. The Crimson Tide made just three of its 13 3-pointer attempts and shot a combined 39 percent from the floor.

One bright spot for the Crimson Tide in the first half was Jahvon Quinerly who, coming off of a 16-point performance against Arkansas last Saturday, recorded nine points and three assists over the first 20 minutes of play.

At the halftime buzzer, both teams headed into their respective locker rooms with the Tigers holding a 40-33 lead.

Alabama shook off its apparent jitters from beyond the arc to start the second half, with the Crimson Tide draining three 3-pointers in a row — including two by Mark Sears. However, after Alabama tied the game at 42, Auburn turned up its own offense.

A 10-2 run by the Tigers — including two 3-pointers by Allen Flanigan — propelled Auburn back out to a 52-44 lead at the first media timeout.

At the under-12 media timeout, Auburn continued its momentum. Up 62-46, the Tigers were shooting 9-of-15 (60 percent) from the floor and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. The shots were falling for the visitors, but the same could not be said for the home team.

At the 7:31 mark following a 9-0 run by Alabama that pulled it within 8 points, a review by the officials resulted in Charles Bediako and Rylan Griffen being ejected from the game for Alabama, while Johni Broome for Auburn picked up his fifth foul, fouling out of the game.

"We were down 17 with just over 10 minutes to go in the game — I couldn't be more proud of our guys," Oats said.

Despite two players leaving the game, the Crimson Tide continued to build on its momentum, composing an 18-2 run that made the score 68-67 in favor of Auburn at the final scheduled media timeout. Alabama kept grinding, chipping away at the Tigers’ lead until, at the 1:37 mark, the Crimson Tide took its first lead of the game.

A layup by Flanigan tied the game, and a missed basket by Auburn as time expired sent the game into overtime, with the teams tied 75-75.

With the crowd inside Coleman Coliseum still on its feet, Alabama came out of the break with a quick dunk by Clowney, then a 3-pointer by Sears. Two free throws and a 3-pointer by Flanigan kept the Tigers within striking distance, but a layup by Jaden Bradley followed by four free throws kept the Crimson Tide ahead.

Two more free throws by Miller sealed the deal as Auburn's players began to foul out: first Broome, then Flanigan, then Jaylin Williams. A last-ditch desperation 3-point shot by K.D. Johnson missed as the buzzer sounded.

Ball game. Alabama 90, Auburn 85 in an overtime thriller. The win not only clinched the SEC regular-season title for the Crimson Tide, but also the 1-seed in next week's SEC Tournament. The win also secures a perfect home record for Alabama, with the Crimson Tide finishing the season 15-0 inside Coleman Coliseum.

"We achieved a lot this year," Oats said. "I mean shoot, we swept our in-state rival, which is a big deal around here. We went undefeated at home — it's not easy to do."

Alabama finished the night shooting 44 percent from the floor compared to 46 percent for Auburn. The Tigers won the rebound battle 39-38, but the Crimson Tide prevailed in the turnover battle with just 14 turnovers compared to Auburn's 18. Alabama had 18 points off of turnovers compared to Auburn's 13 — a key difference in the game.

Quinerly was the primary driving forced behind Alabama, recording 24 points, two rebounds and six assists. He also did not have a single turnover but instead stole the basketball from Auburn on three occasions.

Sears, Clowney and Miller each tied for second-place on the Crimson Tide in points with 17 apiece. Clowney and Miller tied for the team-lead in rebounds with eight each.

"We still got things we want to accomplish ahead of us," Oats said. "The guys have worked hard and I'm super proud of them."

Alabama will finish out the regular season this Saturday at Texas A&M (11 a.m. CT, CBS).

How It Happened:

Overtime

Final: Alabama 90, Auburn 85. What a game.

Miller drained his second. 90-85 Alabama with 6.1 seconds left. Auburn inbounds and misses its final shot. Ball game.

Clowney blocked a shot by Johnson, rebounded by Bradley. Bradley missed a dunk, but rebounded by Miller. Miller was fouled, then headed to the line and made one free throw before Pearl called Auburn's final timeout of the game. 89-85 Alabama with 6.1 seconds left in the game. Miller will have another attempt after the quick break.

Bradley is fouled and will head to the line for two attempts with 22.4 left on the clock. He missed his first, but made his second. 88-85 Alabama.

A layup by Moore makes it 87-85 Alabama with under 30 seconds left.

Bradley headed to the line and made his first, then his second. 87-83 Alabama with 50 seconds left.

Pearl called a timeout right as Bradley was preparing to make his free throw attempts.

Bradley is fouled under the basket after the Crimson Tide makes the most of a long possession. He'll head to the line to shoot two. Alabama leads 85-83 with 52.5 seconds left on the clock.

Johnson drained a 3, and Alabama's lead is cut back to 2. 85-83 Alabama with 1:32 left in the game.

Cardwell appears to have hurt either his Achilles tendon or his ankle on the play. He is sent to the bench after the officials call a medical timeout. Auburn will have possession after the quick break.

Quinerly picked up his second personal. Johnson headed to the line and missed his first attempt, then his second. Alabama rebound.

Bradly made the and-1. 85-80 Alabama with 2:41 on the clock.

Bradley made a remarkable driving layup under the basket and was fouled by Williams for the and-1 opportunity. Williams has fouled out of the game. Bradley heads to the line.

Flanigan fouled out of the game.

Flanigan drained a 3-pointer. 82-80 Alabama with 3:14 left to play. However, on the Crimson Tide's next offensive possession, Miller turned over the basktball.

Miller layup puts the Alabama lead back at 5.

Bradley called for his fourth personal, and Flanigan heads to the line. He made both shots, cutting Alabama's lead to 3 with 3:56 left.

A dunk by Clowney and a 3-pointer by Sears puts Alabama up 80-75. Four minutes left to play.

Second Half

End of regulation: Alabama 75, Auburn 75

Sears stepped out of bounds with the basketball. Turnover. Auburn gets possession with 25 seconds to go. However, Green missed a jumper. Bradley with the rebound, but the clock expires. Overtime.

A layup by Flanigan ties the game at 75. With 45.7 seconds left, Oats called a timeout.

Quinerly was fouled on the way to the basket. At the line, he made his first to give Alabama is first lead of the game: 74-73. He then made his second. 75-73 Alabama with 1:32 left in the contest.

Clowney fouled by Moore, his third personal. Clowney then headed to the line and missed his first, but made his second. The game is now tied at 73 with just over two minutes left.

Quinerly fouled on the layup, but the ball sinks in. He headed to the line for the and-1 and made it. 73-72 Auburn with 2:25 left.

Green drained a 3. 73-69 Auburn with 2:32 on the clock.

Miller sank both free throws. 70-69 Auburn.

Miller was fouled on a layup attempt and will head to the line with 2:58 left to play.

Johnson made his first free throw, then his second. 70-67 Auburn with 3:10 left.

Johnson missed his first free throw, then his second. However, Auburn gets the rebound. Bradley is called for his third personal, sending the Tigers back to the line.

At the final scheduled media timeout, Alabama trails Auburn 68-67 with 3:19 left in the game. A wild 18-2 run has the crowd on its feet, but the Tigers will shoot free throws after the break.

A layup by Sears makes it 68-67 Auburn. This might be the loudest Coleman has been this season.

A layup by Green makes it 68-65 Auburn.

Miller hit his first free throw, then his second. 66-65 Auburn with 4:54 remaining.

Miller was fouled on his way to the basket and will head to the line for the 1-and-1.

Cardwell missed the free throw, with Alabama getting the rebound.

Clowney was called for his third person, Alabama's seventh team foul. Auburn is in the bonus, and Cardwell heads to the line.

Clowney made a layup. 66-63 Auburn with 5:30 on the clock.

A missed 3 by Miller gives Auburn the ball back. However, Quinerly steals the ball and drives on the offensive end for a layup. 66-61 Auburn with 6:13 left to play. Pearl calls a timeout — the Tigers have one remaining.

Quinerly headed to the line due to Alabama now being in the bonus. He made 1-of-2. 66-59 Auburn with 7:23 left to play.

Bediako and Griffen have been ejected from the game. It is unclear if any Auburn players are being sent to the locker room as well. Broome is issued his fifth foul. Quinerly picks up his first personal. Green is issued his second personal.

The crowd is still on its feet despite the lengthy review.

The head coaches have both been called to center court by the officials.

An officials review is currently underway. Quinerly seemed to spike down a basketball onto an Auburn player out-of-bounds to ensure an Alabama possession. The Tigers responded aggressively toward's Quinerly's instigation, and the Alabama bench responded — with some players making it all the way to half-court. While it's unsure from the press area what the officials are reviewing, it's likely so that they can take a look at the entirety of what transpired to try to clear things up.

A layup by Sears makes it a 8-point deficit. 66-58 Auburn with 7:40 left to play.

Alabama cuts Auburn's lead to 10 with a layup by Clowney, assist by Bradley.

Quinerly drains an unopposed 3-pointer. The crowd in Coleman responds. 66-54 Auburn, and Bruce Pearl calls a timeout. Quinerly has scored the last seven points for the Crimson Tide.

Quinerly drove to the basket and made a layup. 66-51 Auburn.

Two more free throws by Johnson — this time courtesy of a foul by Clowney — gives the Tigers a 66-49 lead with just over 10 minutes left to play.

Griffen picked up his first personal, fouling Johnson. Johnson drained both free throws.

Miller goes 1-for-2 at the line. 62-47 Auburn.

Johnson drains a 3-pointer. Broome picked up his fourth personal on the opposite end. At the under-12 media timeout, the Crimson Tide trails the Tigers 62-46. Alabama will have the basketball once play resumes.

Williams made one of his two free-throw attempts. 59-46 Auburn with 11:59 left.

Miller was called for his second personal, Alabama third team foul of the second half.

Flanigan makes a jumper. Regardless of what Alabama does on offense, Auburn doesn't seem to be phased. Cardwell picked up his fourth personal.

Bediako picks up Alabama's first basket in almost four minutes. 56-46 Auburn with exactly 13 minutes left in the game.

And now Williams has his third personal. Along with Broome and Cardwell, the Tigers now have three players with three fouls. For Alabama Bediako is the only player with multiple fouls (3).

Broome picked up his third foul of the evening. 56-44 Auburn with 14:48 left to play.

52-44 at the first media timeout. After coming out of the locker room red-hot, the Crimson Tide has cooled off dramatically.

Green is called for his first personal.

Flanigan makes yet another 3. Bediako responds with a dunk, assist by Quinerly. 48-44 Auburn.

Bediako is called for his third personal.

Flanigan drains a 3. Both teams are shooting well beyond the arc out of the gate. 45-42 Auburn at the 17:53 mark.

Sears drains yet another 3-pointer, making it three-straight offensive possessions with a 3 for the Crimson Tide. 42-42 tie.

Williams sinks a basket for 2. However, Clowney responds with a 3-pointer. The back-to-back 3s for Alabama makes it 42-39 in favor of Auburn.

Sears drains a 3-pointer, and just like that the Crimson Tide trails by just four. 40-36 Tigers.

Alabama gets the basketball to start the second half.

First Half

Halftime: Auburn 40, Alabama 33

A 3-pointer by Berman quiets the crowd as we head into halftime. Sears sank a layup right before the buzzer. Halftime.

Johnson called for his first foul, sending Quinerly to the line. Quinerly made both free throws. 37-31 Tigers.

Auburn called a timeout, with the crowd booing the officials. 37-29 Tigers with 1:03 on the clock.

Miller drained a 3-pointer, his first of the game. 35-29 Auburn at the 1:28 mark.

A foul on Sears sends Auburn to the line once again. At the line, Flanigan missed the first free throw, rebounded by Pringle.

Miller was fouled on the way up to the basket, sinking the layup. He then drained the and-1, making it 35-26 Auburn with just over two minutes left in the first half.

A foul by Pringle gives the Crimson Tide its seventh of the game, putting the Tigers in the bonus. Green headed to the line and made both shots. 35-23 Auburn.

A turnover by Sears — Alabama's ninth of the game — gives Auburn the basketball right back. Flanigan capitalizes with a field goal.

All of the momentum for Alabama was taken away as Bradley is called for an offensive foul. At the final media timeout of the first half, Alabama still trails Auburn 29-23.

An alley-oop dunk from Quinerly to Clowney gets the Alabama fans on their feet. 29-23 Auburn. A block by Miller on a dunk attempt by Broome creates even more noise.

Quinerly headed to the line and made both shots. 27-19 Auburn. The Tigers have nine team fouls compared to five for the Crimson Tide.

Clowney picked up his first personal, and Moore made 1-of-2 at the line. 27-17 Auburn with just over six minutes remaining in the first half.

Burnett sinks a 3-pointer. However, Donaldson responds for Auburn with his own 3. 26-17 Auburn.

Auburn has turned the basketball over nine times, but Alabama has failed to score any points as a result. Meanwhile, the Crimson Tide has seven turnovers, which has led to 6 points for the Tigers.

Nate Oats called a timeout with 7:25 remaining in the first half. Auburn is currently on a 7-0 run and has pulled out to a 23-24 lead.

Johnson drained a 3. 21-14 Auburn.

Clowney was fouled on a layup attempt and headed to the line. He sank the second after missing the first. 16-14 Auburn.

Johnson headed to the line for Auburn and missed his first shot, but made his second. 16-13 Auburn at the 8:50 mark.

Miller headed to the line and sank two free throws— his first points of the game. 15-13 Auburn.

The Crimson Chaos is letting the officials know its opinion of the calls (or lack thereof) made thus far.

Miller now has three turnovers in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Layup by Clowney makes it 15-11 in favor of Auburn.

At the second media timeout, sloppy basketball by Alabama has kept it behind early. The shots haven't been falling for the Crimson Tide, which is shooting 4-of-12 from the floor compared to 5-of-10 for the Tigers. Auburn is also 3-for-4 from beyond the arc, while Alabama is 1-for-7.

An interesting no-call by the official leads to a 3-pointer by Johnson. 15-9 Auburn.

Johnson banks in a layup off of the glass. Burnett responds at the opposite end with a layup of his own. 12-9 Auburn at the 11:48 mark.

Make that 10-7 Auburn as Quinerly drained an uncontested 3-pointer.

Clowney makes a layup — just the second basket of the game for the Crimson Tide. 10-4 Auburn.

Miller is 0-for-3 from the floor to start the game. It's been a rough start for both offenses early on. After two free throws by Green, it's 8-2 Tigers at the 14:42 mark.

Jahvon Quinerly has entered the game for Alabama.

At the first media timeout, Alabama has looked a little disjointed over its first four minutes. Auburn isn't looking much better, but two 3-pointers by Williams give the Tigers a four-point lead. 6-2 Auburn at the 15:56 mark. Alabama will have the basketball after the break.

Clowney missed a 3. At the 16:13 mark, it's still 6-2 in favor of Auburn.

Williams picked up his second personal foul.

Williams hit his second 3-pointer of the game. 6-2 Auburn.

Bediako missed both free throws.

A steal by Bediako leads to him being fouled on the offensive end of the floor. He'll head to the line.

A layup by Sears gives the Crimson Tide its first two points of the contest. 3-2 Auburn.

A 3-pointer by Williams gets the scoring started. 3-0 Tigers.

Auburn won the tip, and we are underway.

Pregame

Coleman Coliseum is incredibly loud during player introductions, particularly for Brandon Miller — whose celebration was a simple tap with Adam Cottrell.

Alabama is sporting its Crimson jerseys for tonight's game, which has been deemed a 'Crimson Out'. Alabama typically wears white at home, so this is a rarity.

And right on queue, the Crimson Tide has taken to the court with resounding cheers as the fight song plays. Less than 10 minutes until tipoff.

The Tigers have taken to the court in their final pregame warmup session before game time. The Crimson Tide remains in the locker room but should be out shortly.

Starting five for Alabama:

Jaden Bradley
Mark Sears
Noah Clowney
Brandon Miller
Charles Bediako

Starting five for Auburn:

Wendell Green Jr.
Zep Jasper
Allen Flanigan
Jaylin Williams
Johni Broome

Tonight's officials: K.B. Burdett Jr., Don Dally, Chuck Jones.

The student section has begun the same chant that got Dixieland Delight banned from Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Crimson Chaos didn't need the song to get the chant going this time.

The Alabama student section has been filled to capacity an hour before the game's start time.

Tonight's game is slated to start at 6 p.m. CT

How to Watch Alabama vs Auburn

Who: No. 2 Alabama (25-4, 15-1 SEC) vs. Auburn (19-10, 9-7 SEC)

When: 6 p.m. CT, Wednesday

Where: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

TV: ESPN2

Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart; Analyst: Bryan Passink). The pregame show will begin one hour prior to tipoff.

Series: Alabama leads, 98-67

Last Meeting: Back on Feb. 11, Alabama and Auburn clashed at Neville Arena. The game was a clinic off effort, with both teams fighting back and forth across the game's entirety. Despite the game being tied 37-37 at halftime, the Crimson Tide ultimately prevailed with a 77-69 victory.

Among Alabama's four double-digit scorers, Rylan Griffen led the way with his 16 points. Noah Clowney led the team with seven rebounds, with Mark Sears and Brandon Miller tying for second with six apiece.

Last Time Out, Alabama: Despite trailing by nine points at halftime, a 58-point second half was enough for Alabama to overcome and defeat Arkansas, 86-83. Brandon Miller led the way with 24 points, but 16 points and seven assists from Jahvon Quinerly combined with 10 points and 13 rebounds from Noah Clowney went a long way in helping the Crimson Tide stave off the Razorbacks.

Last time out, Auburn: The Tigers were no match for the Kentucky Wildcats on the road as Auburn was drummed at Rupp Arena, 86-54. Four double-digit scorers for Kentucky — including 22 points from Oscar Tshiebwe and 21 from Antonio Reeves — drove the Tigers out of Lexington for their fifth loss out of the last seven games.

Alabama leaders: