Alabama Men’s Basketball Holds Off Rival Auburn, 65-57

The Alabama men’s basketball team (17-11, 8-8 Southeastern Conference) picked up a crucial 65-57 win over rival Auburn (11-17, 5-11 SEC) on Saturday in front of a sold out crowd inside Coleman Coliseum. The victory avenges the 83-77 loss the Crimson Tide suffered at Auburn earlier this season while also keeping Alabama in the NCAA Tournament discussion.

Alabama held the lead for the entire first half, surging in front by as many as 10 points at the 7:34 mark (24-14). From that point on Auburn slowly chipped away at its deficit, pulling within two points at 28-26 with 2:02 remaining. Arthur Edwards knocked down a trey for the Tide’s final basket of the half, but Cinmeon Bowers answered with a three-pointer for the Tigers, making the score 31-29 in favor of Alabama at the break. Freshman Donta Hall totaled eight points in the opening 20 minutes, setting a new career high.

The Tigers were hot to start the second half, putting together an 11-2 run for a 40-33 advantage just over four minutes in. Auburn was ahead by as many as 10 at the 14:32 mark before Edwards sunk a shot from beyond the arc. Alabama wouldn’t regain the lead until 5:46 remained on the clock, as senior Retin Obasohan converted a layup on a drive to the basket for a 50-49 advantage. The Tide outscored the Tigers 28-11 over the final 14:28 of the game.

Obasohan paced the offense with 16 points and Edwards added 15. Hall recorded 10 points and eight boards before fouling out in the second half. Sophomore Riley Norris also pulled down eight rebounds.

Next up, Alabama welcomes the Arkansas Razorbacks to Coleman Coliseum for its final home game of the regular season on Wednesday, March 2. The Tide and Razorbacks will tip at 8 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.