Alabama Outlasts Auburn in Rivalry Thriller, 96-92 at Neville Arena
In a game that lived up to the intensity and history of the Iron Bowl rivalry-this time on the hardwood-the Alabama Crimson Tide edged out the Auburn Tigers 96-92 in a high-octane battle at Neville Arena on Saturday night.
From the opening tip, this one had all the ingredients of a classic. Both teams came out swinging, trading buckets and energy in front of a raucous crowd.
Auburn took a narrow 41-37 lead into halftime, fueled by a balanced attack and some strong play inside. But Alabama, as it has done so many times in this rivalry, found another gear down the stretch.
The second half was a showcase of shot-making, hustle plays, and momentum swings. Auburn’s frontcourt, led by Keyshawn Hall and Keshawn Murphy, brought the physicality, battling for boards and attacking the rim.
Hall had a particularly strong stretch, getting to his spots and finishing through contact. Meanwhile, Murphy was relentless on the glass, going toe-to-toe with Alabama center Charles Bediako in a battle that defined the paint.
But Alabama answered with poise and precision. Guard Labaron Philon Jr. was electric, slicing through Auburn’s defense and finishing at the rim with confidence.
He also had a key layup late that helped swing momentum back in the Tide’s favor. Aden Holloway added to the drama, calmly sinking free throws in the face of Auburn’s student section trying everything in their power to throw him off.
Defensively, Alabama made just enough plays to hold off the Tigers. Kevin Overton’s block on Philon in the first half was a tone-setter for Auburn, but Alabama responded by tightening up late. Forward London Jemison came up big on both ends, including a crucial defensive stand and a timely jumper that gave Alabama breathing room in the final minutes.
The final stretch was a back-and-forth sprint. Auburn kept it close with aggressive drives and timely buckets-Overton and Tahaad Pettiford both had strong finishes in traffic-but Alabama’s composure at the line and ability to get stops in crunch time sealed the deal.
As the final buzzer sounded, Alabama players celebrated a hard-earned win on Auburn’s home floor. Jemison walked off the court with a fist pump, while Philon Jr. soaked in the moment with a smile and a shout-knowing this one meant a little more.
For Auburn, it’s a tough loss in a game where they showed plenty of fight and flashes of brilliance. Head coach Steven Pearl rallied his squad during key timeouts, and the Tigers gave the home crowd plenty to cheer about. But in the end, Alabama’s execution in the final minutes proved to be the difference.
This one will sting for Auburn, but it also sets the stage for what should be an electric rematch down the line. As for Alabama, they walk away with bragging rights-and a big win that could carry weight come March.