Alabama
Auburn
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (03/07/2026) — The Alabama Crimson Tide seized control early and never relinquished it, securing a wire-to-wire 96-84 victory over the rival Auburn Tigers on Saturday at a packed Coleman Coliseum.
Fueled by a dominant first half and 21-point performances from guards Labaron Philon Jr. and Aden Holloway, Alabama established a commanding lead and weathered every Auburn rally to close out the regular season with a statement win.
How It Happened
Alabama set the tone from the opening possession. Aden Holloway connected on a floating jump shot just 43 seconds into the contest, and the Crimson Tide never looked back. While Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford answered with a three-pointer to make it 8-3, Alabama’s offense was relentless. A pair of dunks from KeShawn Murphy kept the Tigers within striking distance at 11-7, but the Crimson Tide's balanced attack soon took over.
A tip-in dunk from London Jemison pushed the lead to 15-7 with 14:26 left in the half. Threes from Labaron Philon Jr. and Holloway extended the margin to double digits, putting Alabama up 24-13. The Crimson Tide dominated on the glass, finishing with a 42-28 rebounding advantage, which translated into second-chance opportunities and controlled the pace of the game.
Auburn found a brief spark when Keyshawn Hall hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 29-21 with 8:31 remaining in the half. That, however, would be as close as the Tigers would get. Alabama responded with its most decisive stretch of the game, stifling the Auburn offense and converting on the other end. The half culminated in a back-breaking 23-foot three-pointer from Philon Jr. at the buzzer, sending Alabama into the locker room with an overwhelming 50-31 lead.
The second half saw the Crimson Tide pick up right where they left off. Back-to-back buckets from Aiden Sherrell, including a powerful dunk, extended the lead to 56-34. Holloway drained another three-pointer at the 14:55 mark to give Alabama its largest lead of the night at 28 points, 67-39.
To their credit, the Auburn Tigers refused to fold. Guard Kevin Overton caught fire, hitting a series of deep three-pointers as part of a game-high 24-point effort. A three from Overton with 6:39 to play cut the lead to 79-60, and another from Keyshawn Hall brought the score to 87-71 with just over three minutes left. Despite Auburn’s improved offensive efficiency in the second half, the initial deficit proved insurmountable as Alabama consistently answered every challenge to secure the victory.
Turning Point
The game was decided in the final eight minutes of the first half. After Auburn’s Keyshawn Hall cut the Alabama lead to single digits at 29-21, the Crimson Tide unleashed a ferocious 16-6 run. The sequence was capped by Philon Jr.'s dagger of a three-pointer as the halftime horn sounded. The shot demoralized the Tigers and gave Alabama an insurmountable 19-point cushion, effectively ending any chance of a competitive second half.
Stars of the Game
Labaron Philon Jr., Alabama: The freshman guard was a primary catalyst for the Crimson Tide offense, tying for the team high with 21 points while dishing out a team-best 4 assists. His buzzer-beating three to end the first half was the game's signature moment.
Aden Holloway, Alabama: Matching Philon Jr. with 21 points, Holloway was a consistent scoring threat from all over the floor. He connected on several deep three-pointers that helped Alabama build and maintain its commanding lead.
Kevin Overton, Auburn: In a valiant losing effort, Overton led all scorers with 24 points. His second-half shooting barrage, including multiple long-range threes, provided the bulk of the Tigers' offense as they attempted a comeback.
What It Means
For the Alabama Crimson Tide, the victory provides significant momentum heading into the postseason. By dominating their rival on both ends of the court, particularly on the glass, Alabama solidifies its standing for the SEC Tournament and strengthens its NCAA Tournament resume. The balanced scoring, with four players in double figures, showcases the depth of their roster.
For the Auburn Tigers, the loss exposes defensive vulnerabilities and a susceptibility to being overwhelmed on the boards. While the offense showed signs of life in the second half, shooting 51% for the game, the inability to get stops in the first half created a hole too deep to climb out of. Auburn will need to regroup and find a way to bring a more consistent 40-minute effort to make a run in tournament play.