Obasohan leads Alabama’s 65-57 comeback win over Auburn

Auburn will try to sweep Alabama for the first time since the 2008-09 season when the Tigers visit Tuscaloosa on Saturday.

“I told our team, to go on the road against a potential NCAA Tournament team and be where we wanted to be, that was positive”, Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said. “He tried like insane to come back Wednesday but we just wouldn’t let him… but he wasn’t quite on his game tonight and the other thing too is, not sure I was going to have him, I didn’t really game plan for him much”. The Tigers went ahead 10 points five minutes into the second half after trailing by the same deficit before the half.

Auburn had three players score career highs to help overcome the absence of injured forward Tyler Harris. “I give Alabama’s defense credit, but I’ll take the blame”.

Auburn did not make its first shot from the field until Brown’s first 3-pointer with 14:27 in the first half, but the Tigers closed the half on a 15-7 run to stay within striking distance.

Avery Johnson’s done a great job with Alabama this season, exceeding expectations and positioning the Crimson Tide to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012. In the last three games, Obasohan has averaged 28.6 points while shooting 57.1 percent from the field and 83.8 percent at the free-throw line.

With 3:20 left in the second half, Bryce Brown buried a deep 3-pointer and, as he trotted back down the court, stared into the sea of crimson that surrounded him with three fingers pressed against his head.

Alabama improved to 17-11 overall and 8-8 in the Southeastern Conference. T.J. Dunans had 12 points and seven assists in his second game back from a knee injury, and freshman Horace Spencer scored a career-high nine points off the bench for the Tigers.

“The longer we got away from halftime, the worse it got”, Pearl said.

Pearl said the reason is simple. Alabama had to rally to finish hitting 11-of-22 free throws in the second half. Hall recorded 10 points and eight boards before fouling out in the second half. We should run better.

“What I saw yesterday, because that’s probably our best practice in two months, I see a team that’s back to normal in terms of focus”, Johnson said. “I have to be able to knock those down”.

Auburn hit its first eight shots of the second half on the way to a 46-37 lead with 13:30 left. Check out the former National Basketball Association point guard and television analyst. He and Edwards both made two free throws over the final 13 seconds after both teams struggled badly from the line.