Auburn Goes Cold in SEC Tournament Loss to Alabama

Auburn went one and done at the SEC Tournament in St. Louis, and couldn’t figure things out in the second half against an exceptionally hot Alabama team, falling to the Tide 81-63.

The Tigers led 41-31 at halftime and seemed to be in control of the ballgame, but a 28-3 run to begin the second half for Alabama essentially clinched the game. Auburn never recovered, failing to make a second-half field goal until near the nine-minute mark of the period.

Collin Sexton was fantastic for Alabama, scoring 31 points and leading a half that saw the Tide light up from the floor. After scoring 15 points and grabbing 7 rebounds in the first half, Desean Murray went quiet after the intermission, and Mustapha Heron did as well. Heron scored the Tigers’ first eight points and finished with 18 points, but his overall total did little to affect the game.

The biggest problem for Auburn continued as it mostly has over the past couple of weeks. Both Bryce Brown and Jared Harper were relatively ineffective, scoring a combined 18 points on the day, including just seven combined before halftime. The combo was just 2-15 from three-point range.

Auburn will await its tournament future, with an assured bid to the Big Dance, but we’ll have to see where the Tigers will be sent. Alabama will advance to the SEC semifinals, to play the winner of the Kentucky-Georgia matchup that immediately follows this game.