Tough Pill to Swallow: Auburn Falls to Alabama in Overtime Thriller
It took some time to process this one.
A game like that doesn’t just end when the buzzer sounds. It lingers. The sting of a last-second loss in a rivalry game—on your home court, no less—sticks with you. The Iron Bowl of Basketball delivered another all-time classic, but for Auburn, the aftermath is nothing short of brutal.
Alabama 93, Auburn 91. Overtime. A dagger of a floater at the buzzer by Mark Sears, the final blow in a game that Auburn had every chance to win. The Tigers, ranked No. 1, had the home crowd behind them, the SEC title already in hand, and a chance to sweep their archrivals in the regular season. But instead of a celebration, it ended in silence, with white rally towels meant for a coronation being thrown onto the court in frustration.
A Heavyweight Fight Ends in a Gut Punch
Johni Broome did everything he could. The national player of the year candidate put up 34 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks in 43 grueling minutes. He hit a clutch three to tie the game in overtime. He fought through contact all night. And yet, when the dust settled, it wasn’t enough.
Tahaad Pettiford chipped in 19 points, hitting big shots late. Miles Kelly added 13. But Auburn's defense never quite solved Grant Nelson (23 points) or Clifford Omoruyi (15 points, 9 rebounds). And then there was Sears—held in check for most of the game, only to break Auburn’s heart with one shot.
Bruce Pearl’s team had opportunities. A three-point lead late in overtime. A final possession at the end of regulation. A chance to force a second overtime. But Alabama made the plays when it mattered most.
The Chad Baker-Mazara Problem
Auburn had to finish this one without Chad Baker-Mazara, who was ejected with 10:52 left in regulation for a Flagrant 2 foul on Chris Youngblood. It was the second time in less than a year Baker-Mazara has been tossed from a game. His absence mattered—not just for his scoring and defense, but for the fact that Auburn had to shift its rotation down the stretch.
Pearl, never one to hold back, was visibly frustrated after the game.
“If it was some sort of retaliation, he just can’t retaliate,” Pearl said. “We’re not as good a team without him.”
Baker-Mazara has been a key piece of Auburn’s success this season, but he’s also been a liability in moments like this. And now, with the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament looming, his discipline—or lack thereof—could be the difference between Auburn making a deep run or crashing out early.
Pearl vs. The Officials
If Pearl’s frustration with Baker-Mazara was measured, his frustration with the officiating was anything but. He pointed out the disparity in free throws—24 attempts for Alabama, just 17 for Auburn—and the lack of calls on Broome despite his 28 shots.
“Johni Broome took 15 or 16 of his first shots inside the paint and did not get fouled once, and I have an issue with that,” Pearl said.
He wasn’t outright blaming the officials, but the implication was clear: Auburn’s big man wasn’t getting the same calls that Alabama’s guards were. And in a two-point overtime loss, those whistles matter.
What Now?
Losing to Alabama always stings, but this one cuts deeper. Auburn has now dropped two straight games to end the regular season. The Tigers still have the No. 1 seed in the SEC Tournament. They’re still projected as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. But momentum matters in March, and right now, Auburn doesn’t have it.
The Tigers will get nearly a week to reset before stepping onto the court in Nashville. Win the SEC Tournament, and this loss will be a footnote. Let it spiral, and questions will start to swirl about whether this team peaked too soon.
No one will remember losing to Alabama in March if Auburn is cutting down the nets in April. But right now? Right now, it hurts.