No. 2 Tide clinch regular-season title in OT win

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The No. 2/2 Alabama boys basketball team came back from a 17-point second half deficit to defeat the Auburn Tigers in an overtime thriller Wednesday night at Coleman Coliseum, 90-85. The win clinched the 2023 Southeastern Conference regular season title, the program’s second regular season title in the last three years (2021).

The Crimson Tide (26-4, 16-1) trailed by 17 points at 66-49 with 10:27 left in regulation before the comeback began. Alabama outscored Auburn 26-9 from that point to force an extra period while UA outshot AU, 15-10. With the win, the Tide earned its first undefeated season at Coleman Coliseum since the 2010-11 season (15-0).

Jahvon Quinerly came off the bench to collect a game high 24 points and six assists to lead four Alabama players in double figures. Brandon Miller, Mark Sears and Noah Clowney each contributed 17 as the foursome combined to score all but 15 of the Tide’s total points.

The Tide struggled offensively in the first half, shooting 39 percent (11-of-28) and 23 percent (3-of-13) from beyond the arc while the Tigers made 54 percent (14-of-26) from the field and 75 percent ( 6-of-8) from three to head into the break with a 40-33 lead. However, Alabama combined to go 18-of-38 (47.3 percent) in the second half and overtime compared to Auburn’s 15-of-37 (40.5 percent).

The Tigers (19-11, 9-8) were led by 21 points from KD Johnson while Allen Flanigan (17) and Jaylin Williams (15) also reached double figures in the loss.

Head Coach Nate Oats Postgame Comments

“Tonight was huge for us. In the Alabama-Auburn game, you expect it to be a great game. (Auburn head coach) Bruce (Pearl) has guys ready to go into the game and come back to win, I couldn’t be prouder of the guy boys. It’s the second SEC championship we’ve claimed in three years here. Tonight was very special to win in front of the fans; they Tonight was great. I want to thank the fans and all the support. They bring energy that I think can helped speed up the race in the second half. big problem here. We are not losing at home and this is not an easy thing. We still have things we want to do. Our players have worked hard and I am very proud of them.”

Team statistics

• Alabama won the ninth regular season SEC title in program history with the win
• After not winning a regular season championship in 19 years, the Tide claimed the SEC regular season title for the second time in the past three seasons.
• It was the 13th overtime game in 166 games played between Alabama and Auburn
• The Tide have now won at least 16 games in conference play in two of the past three seasons
• It was the 33rd time in program history that the Crimson Tide swept the Auburn Tigers in a regular season series.
• The Tide’s combined home record over the past three seasons is 40-5 Alabama crimson uniforms marking UA’s first time wearing crimson at home since March 17, 2015, against Illinois (W, 79-58)
• The game was Alabama’s first overtime win over Auburn since Feb. 16, 1985 (W, 74-72, 2OT), and the 13th overtime game between the two programs.
• Jahvon Quinerly led the Tide in scoring with a season-high 24 points, his second time surpassing the 20-point mark this season as well as the second time he has led UA this year.
• The Crimson Tide dominated the points in the paint category, outscoring the Tigers 44-22.
• The Tigers finished just short in the rebounding category, 39-38
• UA is now 3-0 in overtime games this season, with a win over then-No. 1 North Carolina (W, 103-101, 4OT), South Carolina (W, 78-62) and Auburn tonight
• Auburn had three fouls in the contest, with Johni Broome registering his fifth foul in regulation while Allen Flanigan and Jaylin Williams registered their fifth in overtime.

The first round

• After an early bucket from Mark Sears, UA went more than five minutes without scoring which allowed the Tigers to open an 8-2 lead at 6:02 of the game.
• The Tide used a balanced offensive effort to cut the Tiger lead to two, 16-14, with 8:43 remaining.
• Auburn took its biggest lead of the half, 35-23, with 2:34 to play in the stanza.
• Alabama cut the Tiger lead in half, 35-29, finishing the period up 40-33.
• The Tigers made 75 percent (6-of-8) from beyond the arc in the opening stanza, while UA made just 3-of-13 (23 percent)
• Jahvon Quinerly led the Tide with nine, followed by Brandon Miller with eight and Noah Clowney with seven.

Second half and overtime

• Alabama came out of the break on a 9-2 run to tie it, 42-42, before the Tigers went on a 14-2 run to open a 56-44 lead.
• The Tigers extended their lead to 17, 66-49, with 10:27 remaining
• The Crimson Tide went on a 16-0 run to cut the Tigers’ lead to one with 3:19 remaining
• UA led the game with 1:37 remaining, 75-73, before the Tigers tied the game going into overtime.
• Jahvon Quinerly (5) led UA in scoring in the second half and overtime, with 15 points on 5-of-7 from the field.
• Sears also contributed 10 points in the second stanza
• After shooting just 39 percent in the opening half, Alabama shot 50 percent (14-of-28) in the second half
• Alabama outscored Auburn 20-12 in points in the paint in the stanza, while the UA bench contributed 15 points to Auburn’s nine.
• After turning the ball over nine times in the first half, the Tide turned it over just five times in the second half and overtime combined.

Until Next Time

• Alabama will travel to Bryan-College Station, Texas to face the Texas A&M Aggies on March 4th at Reed Arena
• The contest will close at 11 a.m. CT and air live on CBS