Tempers flared during the Alabama-Auburnmen's college basketball game on Thursday, Oct. 22.
Early in the first half of the exhibition called "The Feud," the Tigers were up 11-9 at Alabama's Legacy Arena. Auburn's Bukky Oboye tossed up a 3-point attempt and the ball ricocheted out of the rim. Players on both teams, which are fierce SEC rivals, attempted to grab the rebound.
Auburn's Thomas Dowd grabbed the ball at the same time as Alabama's Keitenn Bristow. The two fell to the floor with the ball between them and they wrestled around, trying to gain possession.
The referees tried to separate the two as players from both teams walked up to the scene and a bit of a shoving match ensued with Amari Allen of the Crimson Tide chirping at his opponent.
Things got HEATED between Auburn and Alabama in tonight’s exhibition 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/O8RxLjStJB
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 23, 2026
The heat remained high throughout the game and, after the buzzer sounded on Alabama's 87-85 win, Allen got into a verbal confrontation with the Tigers' Caleb Williams. Brandon Garrison came to the defense of his Crimson Tide teammate and George Kimble III from Auburn rushed over and charged into Allen. A shoving match ensued and the referees, other players and coaches separated everyone.
MORE action between Alabama and Auburn as the final buzzer sounds 👀 pic.twitter.com/XF5p2gbU38
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) October 23, 2026
Tensions boil over after Alabama beats Auburn in a basketball exhibition pic.twitter.com/Lyfk6aQXGf
— Alabama Crimson Tide | AL.com (@aldotcomTide) October 23, 2026
Both teams start their regular season the first week of November.
What coaches said about the altercation
Here's what Alabama coach Nate Oats had to say about the fireworks:
Nate Oats also asked about the early flare-up. pic.twitter.com/KVFyM6go1f
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) October 23, 2026
Auburn coach Steven Pearl shared his message to his team:
Steven Pearl on what he told Auburn players after things got chippy early in Alabama’s 87-85 preseason win. pic.twitter.com/azGEvw6xvG
— Chase Goodbread (@ChaseGoodbread) October 23, 2026
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fights break out in Alabama-Auburn basketball rivalry game