Feb 21, 2018; Auburn, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Braxton Key (25) battles for a loose ball with Auburn Tigers guard Jared Harper (1) during the second half at Auburn Arena. The Tigers beat the Tide 90-71. Photo Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
AUBURN — Despite being down to just seven scholarship players after it was announced before the game that second-leading scorer Mustafa Heron would not play due to an illness, No. 12 Auburn, like it has all season long, relied on its scrappy defense and typical second-half surge to beat Alabama 90-71 in front of an energetic crowd at Auburn Arena.
The Tigers (24-4, 12-3 SEC) were led offensively by point guard Jared Harper’s 21 points and a career night from forward Chuma Okeke, who saw his role expand with starting forward Anfernee McLemore — the SEC’s leading shot-blocker before he was injured in last weekend’s loss to South Carolina — out for the year.
Okeke, a 6-foot-8, 230-pound true freshman, was 6-of-11 from the field, including 2-of-3 from the 3-point line, and set career highs in points (16) and rebounds (10). He also added three assists and two blocks.
“I just knew I had to step up with two of our teammates down,” Okeke said.
“When Chuma’s playing like that we’re very hard to beat,” said Harper, who also had six assists, four steals and two rebounds.
Forward Horace Spencer aided Okeke in the paint by tallying four points, five rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Guard Byrce Brown added 18 points, despite converting just 3 of 14 3-point attempts.
Forwards Malik Dunbar and DeSean Murray also came up big for the Tigers. Dunbar chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds, while Murray added nine points, eight rebounds and four assists. The two played a major role in Auburn matching Alabama in total rebounds (35) and besting the Crimson Tide in blocked shots (6-5).
Auburn outscored the Crimson Tide 50-36 in the second half after being up by five points at the break. The Tigers high-energy defense led to 17 points off turnovers in the second half. Auburn also outscored the Crimson Tide 20-10 in the paint.
Alabama (17-11, 8-7) point guard Collin Sexton led all scorers with 25 points. He also grabbed five boards and dished out two assists.
“The second half, I felt like we weren’t hustling,” Sexton said. “They were just driving and when we did help then we wouldn’t rotate one more time. That’s why they got open 3s.”
Forward/center Donta Hall chipped in seven points, five boards and four blocks for the Crimson Tide. Guard Avery Johnson Jr. (10 points, two rebounds, two assists) and forward Braxton Key (11 points, eight boards) also had solid games for Bama.
Auburn can clinch at least a share of the SEC regular season title with a win at Florida Saturday or a Tennessee loss.
Alabama will host Arkansas in a pivotal game for both teams as far as the NCAA Tournament is concerned.
