Alabama defeats Auburn 96-92 in close SEC matchup

Crimson Tide rally back from 10-point deficit in second half to take down rival Tigers

Feb. 8, 2026 at 10:55am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Auburn Tigers 96-92 in a close Southeastern Conference matchup on Saturday. Alabama trailed by as many as 10 points but rallied back with strong second-half runs to take the lead for good with 10:39 remaining. Labaron Philon Jr. led the Crimson Tide with 25 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds, while Amari Allen added 17 points and 6 rebounds.

Why it matters

This was an important conference win for Alabama as they look to improve their standing in the SEC standings. The Crimson Tide have now won 6 of their last 10 conference games. For Auburn, the loss is a setback as they try to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume.

The details

Alabama overcame a 41-37 halftime deficit with strong second-half performances from Philon Jr. and Allen. The Crimson Tide went on 11-0 and 8-0 runs to take control of the game. Alabama center Charles Bediako had a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night and added 12 points. Auburn was led by Tahaad Pettiford's 25 points and 7 assists, while Keyshawn Hall scored 24 points before fouling out late.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 8, 2026.
  • Alabama trailed 41-37 at halftime.

The players

Labaron Philon Jr.

A key player for the Alabama Crimson Tide, scoring 25 points, dishing out 6 assists, and grabbing 5 rebounds in the win.

Amari Allen

Contributed 17 points and 6 rebounds for Alabama in the victory.

Charles Bediako

Alabama center who shot a perfect 5-for-5 from the field and scored 12 points.

Tahaad Pettiford

Auburn's leading scorer with 25 points and 7 assists in the losing effort.

Keyshawn Hall

Auburn guard who scored 24 points but fouled out late in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must have poise and composure to come back from a deficit like that. I'm proud of how our guys battled and made the plays we needed to get this important conference win.”

— Nate Oats, Alabama Head Coach

What’s next

Alabama will look to build on this win when they visit Ole Miss on Wednesday, while Auburn hosts 15th-ranked Vanderbilt on Tuesday.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth SEC rivalry game showcased the resilience of the Alabama Crimson Tide, who were able to overcome a double-digit deficit in the second half to defeat their in-state foe Auburn. The win keeps Alabama in the hunt for a top-4 finish in the conference standings.