Johni Broome plays through injury, powers No. 1 Auburn past No. 2 Alabama in historic matchup of bitter rivals

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Johni Broome added to his National Player of the Year case with a strong effort in a win over No. 2 Alabama. (Brandon Sumrall/Getty Images)

Auburn prevailed on Saturday in the biggest basketball game in Alabama state history.

In a matchup of the nation’s top two teams, No. 1 Auburn took early control then held off a late Crimson Tide rally to secure a 94-85 win over No. 2 Alabama on Saturday. The road win for Auburn comes with not only bragging rights over a bitter rival, but significant implications for March.

The Tigers now have the inside track to the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and claim unquestioned supremacy in the nation’s best conference.

Johni Broome led the way for the Tigers in a matchup that was the first of its kind. Saturday’s was the first No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in SEC history and the nation’s first intrastate matchup of top-2 teams since No. 2 Tennessee beat No. 1 Memphis in 2008.

Broome finished with 19 points, 14 rebounds, six assists and two blocks and played the last six-plus minutes of the game after appearing to aggravate a left ankle injury that sidelined him for two games in January. It was a vintage performance that will only add to Broome’s National Player of the Year case.

Auburn asserts early control

Auburn won the opening tip and jumped out to a 9-0 win in front of a hostile Tuscaloosa crowd more accustomed to high-stakes Auburn-Alabama matchups in the fall. Broome scored six of Auburn’s first nine points as Auburn’s defense set the tone for a tough day for Alabama’s normally potent offense.

The Crimson Tide missed their first seven 3-pointers as Auburn maintained a nine-point lead midway through the first half. Alabama finally found its stroke from distance on back-to-back 3s from Aden Holloway and Jarin Stevenson to cut its deficit to 26-25 with 7:49 remaining in the half.

But the Tigers closed the half with a 16-8 run to take a 42-33 edge into halftime. Auburn kept on the gas with a 13-8 run to start the second half and threatened to run away…

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Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2025-02-15 23:49:00

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