Sears Buzzer Beater Helps Tide Defeat Tigers in Regular Season Finale

March 10, 2025 Michael Brauner AL BASKETBALL, Alabama, Alabama, AU BASKETBALL, Auburn, Auburn, Featured News
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 15: Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears (1) dribbles down the floor during a quarterfinal round game of the men's Southeastern Conference Tournament between the Florida Gators and Alabama Crimson Tide, March 15, 2024, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire)

The regular season of college basketball in the SEC wrapped up on Saturday afternoon, but the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers had one last classic in them before teams get ready for the postseason.

Though the game did not have extremely high stakes due to the Tigers already having wrapped up an SEC regular season title and likely already securing the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament — you couldn’t tell that from how hard the two bitter rivals fought in Neville Arena.

With Auburn going for the sweep after previously defeating the Tide in Tuscaloosa, Alabama was able to avoid losing twice to the Tigers via an epic overtime clash which ended in a Mark Sears buzzer beater to win the game.

After Johni Broome hit two three pointers in the final two minutes of the overtime period, including one to tie the game with 15 seconds left, Nate Oats called a timeout to give his team the final shot:

Sears received a pass from Labaron Philon with just four seconds left, drove towards the rim, got a floater up, and it went through just as time expired:

It was a sensational game for Broome on Senior Day, scoring a season-high 34 points. Tahaad Pettiford was terrific as well with 19 points and six assists:

For the Tide, it was actually a quiet day for Sears before the buzzer beater, finishing with just 9 points, though he added seven assists. It was Grant Nelson leading the way on offense with 23 points while Philon and Clifford Omoruyi added 15 each:

Auburn wraps up the regular season at 15-3 in the SEC and 27-4 overall while Alabama finishes 13-5 in the conference and 24-7 overall.

With the Tide’s win they have secured the second seed in the SEC Tournament and the two teams could face again if each were to make it to the championship game in Nashville next weekend.

After another classic hoops season in the Yellowhammer State, both programs have established themselves as some of the best in the nation and will look to continue to do so in the postseason.