Alabama improved to 3-0 in the exhibition season by defeating in state rival Auburn 87-85 in a thrilling, physical, chippy game. The contest was played in Birmingham at a packed Legacy Arena. The Tide was without freshman sharp shooting guard Cole Cloer, and point guards Aden Holloway and Anderson Diaz. Bama will open the season at home on Tuesday November 3rd at 6:30 p.m. against Sam Houston.
Coach Nate Oats sent out a starting five of Amari Allen, Qayden Daniels, London Jemison, Drew Fielder, and Jamarion Davis-Fleming. Steven Pearl and Auburn countered with Tahaad Pettiford, Kevin Overton, Caleb Williams, Thomas Dowd, and Narcisse Ngoy.
Daniels had the first hoop of the game, a long range jumper. After Auburn went ahead 4-3. After Allen connected from deep, the Tide had a 6-4 lead. Ngoy took over down low for the Tigers and AU was able to take an 11-6 lead with 16:39 left in the half. Brandon Garrison made a three the scored was 11-9 at the under 16 timeout. As the teams were heading to the bench a little scuffle broke out and Allen ended up with a technical foul.
Tarris Bouie entered for the Tide and his energy was noticeable. Alabama’s most highly regarded freshman, Jaxon Richardson, also was inserted for his first action of the preseason. Keiton Bristow made an old fashioned three point play to take the lead back for Bama at 21-19. Bouie made a spectacular dunk at the 9:40 mark to give the Tide a 23-22 lead. Things continued to go back and forth and Auburn led 28-25 with 8:15 left in the period.
With Auburn holding a six point lead, Bristow hit from down town to make the score 33-30. Sameuls drained a three pointer with 3:02 on the clock to give Bama a 37-36 lead. Allen made a hoop on a follow on the next possesion . The teams continued to go back and forth and the Tide held a 44-41 lead at intermission.
In the first half Alabama shot 15-36 for 42%, 5-17 from three for 29%, and made only 9-16 free throws for 56%. The team grabbed seven offensive rebounds among their 22 total, dished out seven assists, blocked five shots, made seven steals, and turned the ball over six times. Daniels led the way with 14 points and had two assists. Bristow scored nine with five rebounds, blocked two shots, and added a steal. Bouie contributed six points, led the team with six rebounds, had two steals, one assist, and a block.
Auburn finished 13-37 for 35% in the half with 4-17 for 24% from deep but made 11-13 free throws for 85%. The Tigers won the rebounding battle with 27 and 11 were on the offensive end. AU had nine assists, two blocks, two steals, and committed 10 turnovers. Ngoy was a beast in the middle and had eight points and eight rebounds. Overton had eight points of his own ad Bukky Oboye had six points and six rebounds.
Jemison hit a three pointer for the first basket of the second half and the Tide had a 47-41 lead with 18:35 left. Allen became very active and scored a couple of baskets in a row. Bouie kept making things happen, but his inability to make free throws helped keep Auburn in the game. When Samuels hit a three with 12 minutes left, Bama had a seven point lead at 58-51 and looked like they may cruise from there. To Auburn’s credit they wouldn’t let that happen. Each time the Tide looked like they could go for the kill shot, the Tigers bounce back. With 10:25 left Auburn retook the lead at 62-60.
Bouie nailed a three pointer to give the Tide the lead back and then made 2-2 free throws (he was 3-9 from the line prior), for a 65-62 Bama lead with 9:50 remaining. A Garrison dunk and free throws pushed Bama to a 68-62 lead. Auburn again, would not quit, retaking the lead at 73-72 with 6:40 left in the game. Samuels made 1-2 free throws to close to keep the margin at one with 74-73 scored and 5:35 left. With Auburn leading 76-73, Allen hit a clutch three to tie things up.
With the deficit 78-76 with a little over three minutes left, Allen was fouled and made one of two at the charity stripe. With 2:20 left Jemison nailed a three pointer for a 80-78 Bama lead. With 1:21 left the score was tied at 80 each. Allen powered his way to the rim and muscled a shot in while being fouled. Allen calmly sunk the free throw for the 83-80 lead. Auburn missed from the field, but the Tide fouledon the rebound attempt. The Tigers made both to cut the lead to 83-82 with 58 seconds left. Samuels scored in the paint for an 85-82 lead. Auburn missed from three, but again the Tide fouled on the rebound. The Tigers missed the first and made the second with 22 seconds left and a 85-83 score.
Auburn fouled Allen on the inbounds play and the sophomore made one of the two free throws for the 86-83 lead. Auburn had a good look at three for the tie but missed. Guess what? Bama fouled on the rebound and Auburn made both. With 4.9 seconds left on the clock the Tide had to inbounds the ball. Fielder was fouled and went to the line. The Boise State transfer made the first, and missed the second. The ball was bouncing around and Auburn couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer went off, and Alabama held on for the 87-85 victory. As the players were trying to leave the court, Auburns George Kimble III came from behind and blindsided Allen, almost knocking Allen to the floor and escalating tensions. The coaches and other players grabbed everyone and no other incident took place.
Bama shot 12-28 for 43% in the 2nd half with 5-14 from three and 14-22 at the free throw line. Overall the Tide was 27-64 for 42%, 10-31 for 32% from deep, and 23-36 for a poor 64% at the charity stripe. Alabama finished with 42 rebounds, 13 offensively, 12 assists, eight blocks, 12 steals, and 14 turnovers. Allen had a huge second half and finished with 23 points, four rebounds, four steals, and two assists. Despite shooting 6-19 from the floor, Daniels scored 20 points with four rebounds and four assists. Bouie had 14 points, seven rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and one assist. Garrison scored nine with five rebounds and two assists. Bristow had a nice game with nine points, eight rebounds, four blocks, and a steal.
Auburn shot 10-32 for 31% in the half with 7-24 from deep for 29% and 17-23 at the line. Overall Bama’s defensive held the Tigers to 23-69 for 33%, 11-41 for 27% from three, and 28-36 for 78% on free throws. AU won the boards with 51 rebound, 22 offensive, had 15 assists, four blocks, eight steals, and 17 turnovers. Overton scored 26 points to lead the team, Adam Olsen added 12, and Pettiford and Caleb Williams were also in double figures with 11 each. Dowd had a Dennis Rodman game with 12 rebounds and zero points.
A good, hard faught win over another SEC opponent in an exhibition game. However the game was nothing like your typical exhibition. This had the feel of a game in March. Both teams were missing some key players. The Tide managed to go 3-0 in preseason games with neither one of their point guards available with Aden Holloway’s suspension and an injury to Anderson Diaz. Allen and Daniels have been the main ball handlers and Bouie and others have helped out. Bama’s turnovers in the three games have been way up, and that should change once Holloway returns, which will be in the third regular season game. Once this team is a full strength they should be fun to watch. The season starts Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:30 p.m. CT in Coleman Coliseum.
Roll Tide