Riding high on a 17-game winning streak, with the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking in hand, Auburn will host archrival and nemesis Alabama on Tuesday night.
The top-ranked Tigers (20-1, 8-0 SEC), who signed coach Bruce Pearl to an eight-year, $50.2-million contract extension earlier this week, continued their dominance in nonconference play Saturday afternoon with an 86-68 victory over Oklahoma in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
With the victory, Auburn matched its longest winning streak since the 1998-99 season.
The Crimson Tide (14-7, 4-4 SEC) also picked up a major win in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge by knocking off No. 4 Baylor 87-78 on Saturday.
As inconsistent as Alabama has been, it has stepped up in big games, also beating Gonzaga and Houston, both of whom were Final Four teams last season and are currently ranked in the top seven in the nation.
Jahvon Quinerly led the Crimson Tide with 20 points, while Jaden Shackelford added 19 points and nine rebounds against Baylor. Alabama used a 14-2 surge to take control late.
“Our defense was a lot better and when we needed stops we got them,” Alabama coach Nate Oats said. “I told our guys they needed to start having fun. That was a fun environment today and our energy was much better. That was encouraging.”
Juwan Gary had 15 points as Alabama snapped Baylor’s 36-game winning streak against nonconference opponents, as well as the Bears’ 14-game road winning streak.
The victory was a solid bounce-back performance for the Crimson Tide, who lost their previous game against last-place Georgia 82-76.
“I came into the game really pumped up after we had two good practices after the Georgia loss,” Quinerly said. “It followed over into the game. That’s the competitive nature of the game.”
Alabama will next try to knock off an Auburn squad that the Tide beat twice last season.
Auburn won the first meeting between the two longtime state rivals 81-77 at Tuscaloosa on Jan. 11th. Jabari Smith led the Tigers with 25 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, and Wendell Green Jr. added 19 points off the bench. Alabama had five players score in double figures led by Quinerly’s 14 points.
Smith scored 23 points and collected 12 rebounds to lead Auburn to the victory over Oklahoma. Smith bounced back from a poor shooting performance (2 of 15) in a win over Missouri earlier in the week.
“It’s a long season and you’re going to have games like that,” Smith said. “Just not dwell on it too much, not get down on myself too much, and keeping my confidence up and getting ready for the next game.”
The Tigers shot 46.0 percent from the field and went 22 for 26 at the foul line while using their size advantage to dominate on the boards 41-29. Walker Kessler finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and four blocks while shooting 9 of 11 from the field. K.D. Johnson also had 13 points.
“We had an advantage in the front line, and we took advantage of our advantage,” Pearl said. “So, Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler were dominant in there. That was really key.”
–Field Level Media
