AUBURN, Ala. — In a dramatic showdown, Mark Sears sank a game-winning floater just as the clock hit zero, leading No. 7 Alabama to a thrilling 93-91 overtime victory against top-ranked Auburn on their home court Saturday.
Sears’s decisive shot from the free-throw line was only his third field goal of the game, ultimately concluding with nine points. Alabama, improving to 24-7 overall and 13-5 in the Southeastern Conference, was powered by Grant Nelson’s 23 points, alongside 15-point contributions from both Labaron Philon and Clifford Omoruyi.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Crimson Tide while marking a consecutive defeat for Auburn, who stands at 27-4 and 15-3 in the conference. Auburn’s Johni Broome was a standout, scoring 34 points, including critical shots that tied the game late in regulation and sent the contest into extra time. He nailed a three-pointer in the final 15 seconds of overtime to keep his team in the game.
Tahaad Pettiford also played a pivotal role for Auburn, contributing 19 points. However, the team faced a setback when they lost second-leading scorer Chad Baker-Mazara late in the game. He was ejected following a Flagrant 2 foul against Alabama’s Chris Youngblood, leaving Auburn without him for the last minutes of regulation and the entirety of overtime.
Looking at the broader picture, Alabama enters the postseason with renewed vigor, having secured this victory without overdependence on Sears. This showcases a balanced offensive strength, as evidenced by their 52 points in the paint during the match.
On the other hand, Auburn will dissect its performance and reflect on allowing Alabama 10 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points. Earlier defensive rebounding shortcomings were evident during Auburn’s prior loss to Texas A&M.
The climactic moment of the match was undoubtedly Sears’ game-winning shot, ending a fervent exchange between two of the nation’s top college basketball offenses. Notably, key players received extensive playtime, with Sears on the court for 40 minutes for Alabama and Broome playing 43 minutes for Auburn.
Both teams, being among the top four seeds in the SEC Tournament, are set to commence postseason action on Friday in Nashville, Tenn.
