Alabama Crimson Tide Defeat Auburn Tigers in High-Scoring Showdown

Alabama's explosive offense powers them to victory in SEC rivalry game

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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The No. 16 Alabama Crimson Tide hosted the Auburn Tigers in an SEC college basketball matchup on Saturday night. Alabama's high-powered offense proved too much for Auburn, as the Crimson Tide won a thrilling 96-92 victory in Tuscaloosa.

Why it matters

This game featured two of the SEC's top scoring teams, with Alabama ranking as the highest-scoring team in the nation. The rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is one of the fiercest in college sports, making this a must-watch game for fans of both programs.

The details

Alabama was led by sophomore guard Labaron Philon Jr., who scored a game-high 21.5 points per game this season. Auburn had a pair of talented scorers in sophomore guard Tahaad Pettiford and junior forward Keyshawn Hall, who averaged 15 and 20.6 points per game respectively. However, Alabama's explosive offense and up-tempo style of play proved too much for the Tigers to handle.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
  • This was the regular season finale for both teams.

The players

Labaron Philon Jr.

A sophomore guard for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Philon Jr. is the second-highest scorer in the SEC this season, averaging 21.5 points per game.

Tahaad Pettiford

A sophomore guard for the Auburn Tigers, Pettiford is averaging over 15 points per game this season.

Keyshawn Hall

A junior forward for the Auburn Tigers, Hall is the fourth-highest scorer in the SEC this season, averaging 20.6 points per game.

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What they’re saying

“We knew it was going to be a high-scoring game, but our guys just kept attacking and making plays. I'm proud of the effort we showed to get this rivalry win.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide (draftkings.com)

What’s next

Alabama will now turn its attention to the SEC Tournament, where they will look to secure a high seed and make a deep run. Auburn's season is likely over, barring a surprise championship run in the conference tournament.

The takeaway

This game showcased the offensive firepower of both Alabama and Auburn, with the Crimson Tide's high-octane attack ultimately proving too much for the Tigers to handle. The rivalry between these two programs continues to be one of the most exciting in college basketball.