Victory Thread: Alabama knocks off Auburn in Neville

Nate Oats and company went on the road for an always difficult test at Neville Arena today and got it done, bringing home a hard fought 96-92 victory.

Alabama won the tip, and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. encouragingly knocked down a corner three on the opening possession. Unfortunately, Alabama’s interior defensive woes and inability to keep opponents off the offensive glass showed up early as well, leading to an 11-7 deficit at the first TV timeout. Charles Bediako didn’t start the game, and for whatever reason Nate Oats still seems shy about playing him alongside Aiden Sherrell to try and fortify the front line.

Alabama’s turnover problems returned as well. Out of the timeout, Labaron Philon threw the ball away for the Tide’s fifth in the first six minutes, and it turned into a three-pointer on the other end. Philon was able to answer with a three of his own to pull back within 14-10 at the 14 minute mark. Things stayed that way through the 12-minute timeout as both offenses went stagnant.

Elyjah Freeman knocked down two free throws out of the timeout for a 16-10 advantage. The defenses won the next couple of possessions until yet another Philon turnover led to a breakaway dunk, and he once again made up for it with a bucket of his own. After a Tide stop, Auburn forward Kevin Overton did Alabama a favor with a flagrant foul against Amari Allen, who knocked down both free throws. Aiden Sherrell converted an easy bucket off the inbound to draw Alabama back within two, but Tigers forward Keyshawn Hall scored six points on the next two possessions sandwiched around an Aden Holloway bucket for a 26-20 lead at the 8-minute break.

A Bediako dunk when action resumed pulled the Tide back within four, but Auburn was able to answer and the lead stayed at six into the final TV timeout with 3:25 to play. The pace of play clearly favored the home team even if the plodding took a little juice out of the student section. Alabama had taken only six three-pointers at this point and made two, which was news in and of itself. Wrightsell had to be helped off the floor during the break and didn’t play for the remainder of the half.

Auburn scored four straight out of the break for the first double-digit difference with 2:30 to play. Taylor Bol Bowen and Houston Mallette knocked down back-to-back corner threes to stop the bleeding, then Mallette hit another following an Auburn putback to pull Alabama within one. Overton knocked down a three of his own then Philon missed the front end of a one-and-one, and Auburn took a 41-37 lead into the half.

Auburn dominated the boards 21-15 including 10-3 on the offensive glass, and also won the turnover battle 9-2. A a result, they had 11 more shots than the Tide in the opening half, which was reminiscent of the Florida debacle last weekend. The Tigers shot the ball poorly however, only 40% overall and 28% from three, which helped keep Alabama in the game. The Tide also helped themselves with the late surge from outside the arc, finishing the half 5-11 from deep for a cool 45%. Philon led the scoring with nine, and Allen led on the boards as usual with five.

Things started out rough for in the second half. Oats actually started out with Sherrell and Bediako in the game together, but that didn’t stop Hall from getting to the hole. An Overton free throw on the next trip pushed the lead out to seven. Alabama put a little spurt together and briefly drew within one, but Auburn responded to take a 52-47 lead into the 16-minute timeout. Bediako made an impact with five points in the early minutes.

Hall got yet another easy look out of the timeout to push the lead to seven, but that was quickly erased with a London Jemison personal 7-0 run on a drive, corner three, and transition layup. Sherrell then got the ball deep off a pick and roll and was grabbed by Hall for another Flagrant 1. He made both free throws for the first Alabama lead since very early in the first half.

Alabama was unable to do anything with the extra possession, but got a stop followed by a Philon drive to go up four. A three from Tahaad Pettiford drew Auburn within one, then after some back and fourth he knocked down another to reclaim the lead. Allen answered with one of his own, and Alabama took a 66-65 lead into the second TV timeout with 10:17 to play. Bediako was fouled going to the hoop headed into the break.

Bediako made one of two and Philon followed with a pair to briefly put Alabama up by four, but Auburn fought back with some free throws of their own to pull within one at 71-70 into the 8-minute timeout. Alabama was able to get a stop out of the break, then Philon scored five straight on a long three and a pair of free throws for Alabama’s biggest lead of the game at 76-70.

Murphy stopped the run with an alley-oop dunk, but Allen answered with a beautiful reverse layup off a baseline drive. A runout for Hall pulled Auburn within two at the five minute mark and, after some free throws were exchanged on both ends, Alabama took a slim 80-79 lead into the final media break of the afternoon. Another instant classic between these two hated rivals looked to be in the cards.

Allen knocked down another three, this one with Pettiford’s hand in his face with three minutes left, to stake Alabama to a four point lead at 83-79. That lead would push back out to six on a Holloway four-point play with 2:31 left. After an exchange of buckets, Murphy knocked down a three from the top of the key to pull within three and Auburn coach Steven Pearl called timeout.

Auburn forced a shot clock violation on the next possession, but Alabama managed a stop of their own. Holloway was fouled with 43 seconds left amd made both, for a five point lead. Sherrell stuffed Murphy on the other end and Auburn was forced to foul Holloway again to extend the game. He made one of two this time. The Tide allowed Pettiford a free lane to the hoop with 22 seconds left, leaving Alabama up 92-88.

Allen and Philon each made a pair of free throws to maintain the advantage. Things got a bit hairy at the end of the game when Sherrell was incorrectly called for goaltending and Allen was called for a push-off with six seconds to play, but Alabama prevailed in the end. Philon led with 25 points, but Holloway added 15 including some critical shots down the stretch which had to feel sublime for him. Allen tossed in 17 with six rebounds.

Alabama’s second half defense was exposed yet again with 51 points allowed, but the offense was scorching and put up 59 to take the victory. Next up will be the decision by Judge Daniel Pruet to determine whether Charles Bediako will be allowed to continue. His 12 points in 22 minutes were a big help, and the interior defense always looks a bit better when he’s on the floor. After that will be a winnable week at Ole Miss and then home against South Carolina. If Alabama can take care of business, they’ll be sitting pretty at 8-4 in SEC play.

Roll Tide.