The ‘Bama Boys Snap Auburn’s 11-Game Win Streak
Within a crowded Wednesday night slate of men’s college basketball, there was one game in particular that meant just a little more than the rest of them. In a battle of leading SEC foes, the Alabama Crimson Tide (13-6 overall, 5-1 conference) bested the Auburn Tigers (16-3 overall, 5-1 conference) in Tuscaloosa for the temporary lead in the loaded conference. The Crimson Tide found themselves down 16-8 just five minutes into the game but went on a torrid 36-14 run to end the half leading by 14 points. The Tigers clawed back in the second half, and even had a chance to tie the game in the final minute, but ‘Bama continued to hit clutch free throws to seal the deal. The team went 16-19 (84.2%) from the free-throw line, and five players contributed from the stripe.
Alabama senior guard Mark Sears looked fantastic and took over stretches for the Tide in this one, scoring 22 points and racking up eight assists, five rebounds, and three steals. Senior transfers Grant Nelson and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. each chipped in 14 points, and streaky shooter Rylan Griffen hit five threes off the bench to add 17 for the Crimson Tide. While the rest of his squad didn’t contribute enough to secure the win, Auburn’s rock in the middle of their defense, Johni Broome, exploded for 25 points, 14 rebounds, to go along with 5 blocks. His defensive tenacity and ability to alter shots at and around the rim are impactful even beyond the box score. He frequently picks up the slack for his teammates missed defensive assignments with his length and athleticism.
With the win, Alabama moves to a virtual tie atop the SEC standings with Auburn through six games, but ‘Bama now holds the tiebreaker at the moment. The SEC is proving to again be one of college basketball’s top conferences, with six teams currently projected to make the 68-team tournament field. Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia are all off to strong starts, and Ole Miss, Florida, and Texas A&M are also vying for tourney spots. The two teams will meet again in just two weeks on February 7th with the Tigers playing host in that one.
