WATCH: Nate Oats talks historic Alabama-Auburn basketball matchup
Nate Oats spoke to reporters before Alabama (21-3, 10-1 SEC) basketball faces Auburn (21-3, 10-1 SEC) on Saturday in Coleman Coliseum.
Any time Auburn and Alabama play in any sport, it means something within the borders of its home state, with precious, hard-earned bragging rights on the line.
This weekend, more than just the state of Alabama will have its eyes on the Crimson Tide and Tigers’ men’s basketball teams. The entire country will.
Watch Alabama basketball vs Auburn live with Fubo (free trial)
On Saturday, the top two teams in the nation will square off when No. 2 Auburn travels to Tuscaloosa to face off against the archrival No. 1 Crimson Tide at Coleman Coliseum. It will be the first-ever SEC game between the two highest-ranked teams in the sport.
It figures to not only be a competitive game, but a highly entertaining one filled with some of college basketball’s best players and brightest stars.
Auburn and Alabama are No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, among Division I teams in offensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Coach Nate Oats’ fast-paced system is humming yet again this season, with several of the best pieces from the Crimson Tide’s Final Four run last season — namely, guard Mark Sears and forward Grant Nelson — yet again pacing the Crimson Tide. Bruce Pearl and the Tigers, meanwhile, have maybe the country’s best player in forward Johni Broome, who is averaging 18.1 points and 10.7 rebounds per game and is in a neck-and-neck race with Duke’s Cooper Flagg for national player of the year honors.
Auburn and Alabama split their two-game series last season, with each team winning at home.
Follow along here for the live score, updates, highlights, how to watch and more from Auburn basketball’s game against Alabama:
| TEAMS | 1H | 2H | F |
| Auburn | 48 | — | — |
| Alabama | 37 | — | — |
Here’s a look at where things stand statistically at halftime between No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Auburn:
- Field goal percentage: Auburn 37%, Alabama 31%
- 3-point percentage: Auburn 32%, Alabama 13%
- Free throws: Auburn 8-8, Alabama 9-13
- Turnovers: Alabama 5, Auburn 2
- Bench points: Auburn 22, Alabama 15
- Points in the paint: Alabama 16, Auburn 10
- Assists: Auburn 8, Alabama 2
And here are some individual stats for the Crimson Tide and Tigers:
Auburn
- Johni Broome: 12 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 4-10 shooting
- Chaney Johnson: 12 points, 2 rebounds
- Chad Baker-Mazara: 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Alabama
- Grant Nelson: 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2-7 shooting
- Mark Sears: 5 points, 2-8 shooting, 0-5 3-pointers
- Cliff Omoruyi: 0 points, 8 rebounds
Alabama was threatening to take its first lead of the game, trailing 35-33 and with the ball with about three minutes left in the first half. In what’s been a game of runs, though, Auburn has ripped off seven unanswered points to take a 42-33 lead right before halftime.
The game has followed a familiar rhythm so far. Auburn will build a sizable lead and threaten to break the game open early before Alabama gets within a basket, after which Auburn extends its lead again. At the under-four media timeout, the Tigers are up 35-29.
The Crimson Tide hasn’t looked comfortable offensively for much of the day, making only 11 of its 30 shots and two of its 14 3-pointers. Auburn’s defense deserves some credit in that. The Tigers have been locked in for much of the day so far on that end of the floor. Johni Broome has a game-high 10 points while Chad Baker-Mazara, who also has two fouls, has eight points, four rebounds and two assists.
A potentially big moment early in the game, with Alabama star guard Mark Sears picking up his second foul with 8:16 remaining in the first half.
It came with his team charging back, having scored five unanswered to get within four, 26-22. Sears got whistled for reaching in while trying to steal the ball from Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara.
It was a slow start offensively for the Crimson Tide, who average 10 made 3-pointers a game, but didn’t sink its first shot from beyond the arc until about nine minutes remaining in the half.
With the top two teams in the country facing off, you knew it wasn’t going to be a lopsided game for long.
After falling behind 14-4, Alabama goes on a 9-0 run, with four different players pitching in for coach Nate Oats’ team.
Auburn’s all-American is playing like one in his team’s biggest game of the year. Johni Broome has eight points and has made three of his four shots to get the Tigers out to an early 14-6 lead on Alabama.
There was a lid on the basket early for the Crimson Tide, which missed its first six shots while falling behind 9-0.
Pregame
With the game between No. 6 Houston and No. 13 Arizona running long, the Auburn vs. Alabama game will now tip off at 4:15 p.m. ET, moved back 15 minutes from its original start time.
Alabama forward Derrion Reid is expected to play today against Auburn, according to multiple reports, including from ESPN and the Field of 68, the latter of which cited Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats specifically for the information.
Reid has been an important piece for Alabama this season, averaging 7.2 points and 3.4 rebounds per game off the bench. He had missed the Crimson Tide’s win at Texas on Tuesday while dealing with a leg injury.
Chad Baker-Mazara, Auburn’s No. 2 scorer behind Johni Broome, is dressed for the game and taking part in warmups. He was originally listed as probable on the SEC athlete availability report, which has since been changed to a game-time decision.
Baker-Mazara had been dealing with an upper body injury that was aggravated during the Tigers’ practice on Friday.
Alabama student section filled up
If there weren’t enough signs already that this is a huge game, here’s another: Alabama’s student section at Coleman Coliseum was already close to full more than an hour before tip-off.
Who says football schools don’t appreciate good basketball?
What channel is Auburn basketball vs Alabama on today?
Alabama and Auburn’s game will air on ESPN. Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) will be on the call courtside while Jess Sims will serve as the sideline reporter.
Streaming options for the game include ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Auburn vs Alabama time today
- Date: Saturday, Feb. 15
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Coleman Coliseum (Tuscaloosa, Alabama)
Alabama and Auburn are scheduled to tip off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 15 from Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa.
Auburn basketball vs Alabama history
- Series record: Alabama leads 102-68
- Alabama’s last win: January 2024 (79-75)
- Auburn’s last win: February 2024 (99-81)
Alabama has a sizable lead in the all-time series and has won three of the past four meetings.
Auburn vs Alabama predictions
This section will be updated
Auburn vs Alabama betting odds
Odds from BetMGM as of Saturday, Feb. 15
- Spread: Alabama (-1.5)
- Over/under: 172.5 points
- Moneyline: Alabama, -125 | Auburn, +105
Based on the SEC availability report.
Alabama
- F Derrion Reid: Game-time decision (leg)
- G Latrell Wrightsell Jr.: Out (ruptured Achilles)
- G Houston Mallette: Out (knee)
Auburn
- G/F Chad Baker-Mazara: Game-time decision (upper body)
Alabama basketball schedule 2024-25
Here’s a look at Alabama’s past five results. To view the Tide’s full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
- Saturday, Jan. 25: Alabama 80, LSU 73
- Wednesday, Jan. 29: Alabama 88, Mississippi State 84
- Saturday, Feb. 1: Alabama 90, Georgia 69
- Saturday, Feb. 8: Alabama 85, Arkansas 81
- Tuesday, Feb. 11: Alabama 103, Texas 80
Auburn basketball schedule 2024-25
Here’s a look at Auburn’s past five results. To view the Tigers’ full 2024-25 schedule, click here.
- Wednesday, Jan. 29: Auburn 87, LSU 74
- Saturday, Feb. 1: Auburn 92, No. 23 Ole Miss 82
- Tuesday, Feb. 4: Auburn 98, Oklahoma 70
- Saturday, Feb. 8: No. 6 Florida 90, Auburn 81
- Tuesday, Feb. 11: Auburn 80, Vanderbilt 68
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