The highly anticipated matchup between No. 1 Auburn and No. 2 Alabama delivered on its promise, with Auburn emerging victorious in a thrilling 94-85 win that cements the Tigers’ edge in the SEC title race. Despite never holding the lead and trailing by double digits at times, Alabama made a late surge to tie the score at 65-65 before ultimately falling short.
National player of the year candidate Johni Broome aggravated an ankle injury early on, but his physical style and aggressive defense were pivotal in securing Auburn’s win. Tahaad Pettiford, who came off the bench to make an impact in big games all season, was the game-changer in the second half with 13 points, including a clutch scoop layup.
Alabama struggled from beyond the arc, missing eight consecutive 3-point attempts at one point, and could not recover from a sloppy first half. The Crimson Tide’s pace, which relies on production from its bench, proved to be a challenge when they faced foul trouble in the second half.
The win expands Auburn’s cushion as the No. 1 overall seed, while Alabama stays at No. 2 but with daylight ahead of No. 3 Duke. For Alabama, the loss is a missed opportunity to supplant Auburn for the top spot in the field, but they will have another chance when the two teams meet again.
Source: https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/43862795/mens-college-basketball-auburn-won-alabama-lost-takeaways-ap-1-vs-2-matchup