Auburn finds a way to win

AUBURN — Highlights were shown on the video screen from the glory days of Auburn basketball.

Charles Barkley dunking, Chuck Person firing it through and Sonny Smith directing the way.

Auburn’s heroes of the 1980s were recognized at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum on Saturday in what was the last ever basketball game to be played between Auburn and Alabama in this aged building.

Chris Morris, Frank Ford, Gerald White and “The Rifleman” Person were in attendance. Even current NBA player Marquis Daniels was there.

And the old-timers were given something to smile about, though what they saw must have made them cringe at times.

Auburn won the game in somewhat dramatic fashion, 58-57, thanks in large part to a DeWayne Reed steal at midcourt and a Lucas Hargrove free throw with three seconds left.

It was a far cry from some of the battles seen in this building during the 1980s when both Alabama and Auburn were loaded with talented players.

On this day, it was a scrap between two teams low on talent and towards the bottom of the pack in the league. But at least they battled hard in the Iron Bowl of basketball.

The stats were remarkably similar:

Alabama shot 41.2 percent from the field; Auburn shot 42.6.

Alabama grabbed 33 rebounds; Auburn grabbed 29.

Alabama had 19 turnovers; Auburn had 15.

Alabama was 4-of-15 on 3-point tries; Auburn was 3-of-16.

Alabama big man JaMychal Green fouled out; Auburn’s big man Brendon Knox fouled out.

The score was tied 11 times.

There were 12 lead changes.

While new Alabama coach Anthony Grant was introduced to the Tide-Tiger tussle up close for the first time, Jeff Lebo is battling for his Auburn coaching life every time out now.

Lebo is in his sixth year with the Tigers, and you don’t need me to tell you the program appears no better off than the day he took over.

But wins like the one Saturday may buy Lebo some more time. After all, the Tigers have beaten their cross-state rival four straight times now, and six out of seven in the series.

The difference in this one?

Give credit to a couple of Auburn seniors who stepped up to make the big plays with the game on the line.

Reed hit one of two free throws with 12 ticks left to tie it at 57-57, then made the play of the game when he snatched the ball away from Mikhail Torrance around midcourt and got it ahead to Hargrove.

Hargrove was fouled going to the basket, and would connect on one of two free throw tries with three seconds left to give Auburn the lead and eventual victory.

Yet maybe the biggest difference for Auburn in the game came on the defensive end.

The number of turnovers and low shooting percentage can be chalked up to strong defensive play on both ends of the court. That’s something we’ve seen often this year out of Grant’s team, but not enough of from Lebo’s bunch.

Three Auburn players were asked if this Alabama team looked different from the one of recent years.

All three — Hargrove, Frankie Sullivan and Tay Waller — quickly acknowledged that the Tide defense was the best they had seen in quite a while.

On Saturday, for a change, Auburn got down to business on defense, too.

“I’m awfully proud of my team and how we defended so well in this game for 40 minutes,” Lebo said.

Because of it, Auburn celebrated a big win.

And all those former players went home happy.