The top-ranked Auburn Tigers earned a 94-85 victory in the matchup in Tuscaloosa on Saturday against the No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, a game that was billed up as potentially the biggest basketball game in the history of the state.

In control for a large portion of the game, Auburn got off to a fast start with a quick 9-0 lead off three consecutive made three-pointers including two of them from Johni Broome:

That's 2 in a row for JB😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/QrrZA47Nvj

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) February 15, 2025

After trailing for a significant portion of the first half, the Tide were able to claw their way back into it with some big plays including a corner three for Jarin Stevenson:

J-Splash from the corner 👌🏼#RollTide | #BlueCollarBasketball pic.twitter.com/o2fYjFa4yr

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 15, 2025

Once things got away from the Tide to close the half however, they trailed by nine and a score of 42-33 at the break.

Alabama struggled from three-point land all afternoon, but the first half was particularly brutal to put them behind the 8-ball, shooting 2 of 15 as a team from deep.

In the second half, the Tigers looked to be close to pulling away and making things a blowout, taking a 14-point lead just a few minutes into the second frame:

The bank is open🤑 pic.twitter.com/MCIuwpqkXj

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) February 15, 2025

Alabama would not go away quietly however, tying things up with just over eight minutes to play in front of a Coleman Coliseum crowd which may have been the loudest in the long history of the building.

MS1 pic.twitter.com/fTjxF0GVeo

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 15, 2025

The Dakota Durant. pic.twitter.com/lTAWJUMD8J

— Alabama Men’s Basketball (@AlabamaMBB) February 15, 2025

Auburn was able to hold off the Tide run however and pull away once again late to earn a win which never looked in doubt down the stretch.

Tuff Haad😤 pic.twitter.com/JkJHHcRyLy

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) February 15, 2025

Johni Broome led the way in scoring for Auburn with 19 points along with 14 rebounds and six assists while Denver Jones added 16 points of his own. For the Tide, Mark Sears had 18 points while Grant Nelson posted 12 and 12 rebounds.

The Tigers now take sole possession of first place in the SEC with an 11-1 conference record and 23-2 overall record with a fairly manageable schedule down the stretch. Alabama meanwhile has one of the most difficult stretches in the history of the conference to end the year including a road date with Auburn in the final regular season game of the year.

Part two will be played in a few weeks on Saturday, March 8 at Neville Arena.