TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama Crimson Tide closed out the 2025-2026 regular season in
dominating fashion, beating the Auburn Tigers 96-84.
From the opening tip, the Tide played with a ferocity that the Tigers could not match. A raucous
Coleman Coliseum certainly helped Alabama rattle Auburn right out of the gate.
“We have the best student section in the SEC,” Alabama Head Coach Nate Oats said. “They
cheer hard for the right plays and do it the right way.”
Alabama proved they can do more than shoot the three-pointer offensively, scoring 58 points
in the paint.
“People act like we live and die by the three,” Oats said postgame. “That’s just not it.”
Alabama’s physicality was not limited to only the offensive end of the floor. The Tide’s tenacious
defense forced 13 turnovers, and the Tide bullied Auburn on the glass, outrebounding the Tigers
42-28.
“They punked us,” Auburn Head Coach Steven Pearl said. “That’s the short of it.”
Aside from Pearl’s suit and late second-half scoring run, nothing looked good for the Auburn
Tigers. To make the NCAA Tournament, they will have to win the SEC Tournament.
“It’s win or go home at this point,” Pearl said.
Another element that made this Alabama victory extra sweet was that it was Senior Night in
Tuscaloosa. Alabama has three senior players on the roster: Guards Houston Mallette and Latrell
Wrightsell and Center Noah Williamson.
Sophomore Guard Labaron Philon expressed his feelings for this senior class and the impact they
have made on the Alabama Basketball culture.
“They’ve been everything,” he said. “You know, the few years I’ve been here, those guys get in
every day in the morning and work. They come before anybody else gets here. Everybody’s trying to
do the right thing like that.”
Their head coach also had high praise for the seniors, especially Houston Mallette. Mallette did
not have a single point against Auburn, but played with a drive and intensity all game that won
him the Hard Hat award, which is given to the player who earns the most of what Oats calls
“blue collar” points.
“Houston Mallette is one of the highest character, best culture-builder players I’ve ever
coached,” he told reporters postgame. “For these young guys to look up to see the type of
example he sets, this is why we have one of the best cultures in the country.”
Alabama is now taking advantage of extra rest courtesy of a double-bye in the SEC Tournament
and will be back in action in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament on March 13.
