In perhaps the game of the year in college basketball, Alabama basketball walked into Neville Arena and beat Auburn in overtime thanks to a game winning buzzer beater by Mark Sears.
Just one week ago, Alabama was on the wrong end of a buzzer beating loss against Tennessee when Jahmai Mashack hit a 30-footer in Knoxville. Sweet, sweet vindication occurred a week later on the Plains and Sears delivered one of the biggest moments in Crimson Tide regular season history.
GAME WINNER!! pic.twitter.com/nFZqCSfPhf
— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) March 8, 2025
A quiet game for Mark Sears ends in a bang in Alabama's win over Auburn
Mark Sears was quiet all afternoon and finished with just nine points on 3-of-9 shooting, once again frustrated by Denver Jones and Auburn's aggressive defensive approach. But he scored the points that mattered the most to beat the Tigers at the buzzer.
Grant Nelson and Cliff Omoruyi responded from bad games against Florida on Wednesday with big performances against Auburn to keep Alabama afloat despite Sears' struggles. They combined for 38 points and 16 rebounds with Omoruyi going a perfect 7-of-7 from the floor.
Labaron Philon made big plays down the stretch, including a clutch three in overtime to tie the game when the Crimson Tide fell behind by three. They all did just enough to keep Alabama right there and allow Sears to deliver at the end.
Auburn's Johni Broome finished with 34 points and hit a clutch three to tie the game with 14 seconds left. Out of a timeout, it looked like Oats was putting the ball in Philon's hands, but instead it went to Sears off a screen and he attacked the basket to hit a mid-range floater from the foul line to deliver the win to the Crimson Tide in dramatic fashion.