This week for Coach Steven Pearl and the Auburn men’s basketball team, only one matchup stood to be on deck. The Alabama Crimson Tide and Coach Nate Oats were set to make the pilgrimage down from Tuscaloosa to face the Tigers this past Saturday. It was to be expected to have a knock down, drag out brawl within the walls of Neville Arena, and that is exactly what we got.
Alabama 96, Auburn 92
Saturday’s contest lived up to the billing. For the first time since 2021, neither squad came into a regular season contest ranked. Alabama took the opening tip, with Latrell Wrightsell going to the corner and scoring first for UA. Tahaad Pettiford took the ensuing drive for Auburn back down with a floater making the score 3-2, then when the scoring ramped up, Auburn kept the lead the entire first half, going into halftime with a 41-37 lead.
Kevin Overton and Keyshawn Hall led the Auburn at the half with 11 and 10 points scored respectively. Keyshawn Murphy had asserted his presence on the glass down low having 8 rebounds in the first half, with 6 points to boot. Labaron Philon led UA with 9 in the first half.
Momentum shifted in the second half, with Alabama getting on some scoring runs and going up at points by as many as 10, but the Tigers kept pressing back and keeping them within arm’s reach. A costly foul by Tahaad Pettiford on a 3 point shot by Aden Holloway, turned into a 4 point trip. The difference in the game was 4 points, with Alabama prevailing 96-92 in the end. Coach Steven Pearl had several things to say about Auburn’s performance post game, but ultimately he zeroed it down to the second half defensive effort:
“Ultimately gave them the confidence to go out there and do a lot of good things offensively… We scored 92 points. We’ve got to win that game scoring 92 points. We’re standing straight up, get nailed on a pindown screen and then foul a 3-point shooter. Just unacceptable. Can’t do that if you want to win basketball games… Too lazy, too lackadaisical.”
Tahaad Pettiford led Auburn with 25 points on 9-16 FG’s, 3-8 from 3 point range, and 4-4 from the free throw line. Keyshawn Hall added in another 24 points on 8-22 FG’s, 1-6 from 3 point range, and 7-9 from the free throw line. Keyshawn Murphy added in 13 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers. Labaron Philon led Alabama in scoring with 25 points
The Week Ahead
Auburn Basketball has two Top 25 matchups ahead this week. Tuesday night, Coach Mark Byington and the #19 Vanderbilt Commodores head south from the Music City for a 6:00 pm tipoff to be televised on SEC Network. Vanderbilt will be playing with edge after coming off of a home loss to Oklahoma.
Saturday brings a roadtrip out west to Fayetteville and Bud Walton Arena for a rematch against the #21 Arkansas Razorbacks and Coach John Calipari. Tipoff is set for 7:30 pm on the ESPN family of networks. The Hogs will be seeking revenge on the Tigers after Auburn picked them apart in the first matchup of the season at Neville Arena in January.
