Alabama Crimson Tide guard Mark Sears celebrates after making the game-winning shot to beat the Auburn Tigers in overtime. John Reed-Imagn Images

Watch: Alabama knocks off No. 1 Auburn with OT buzzer-beater

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Mar 8, 2025 5:49 PM ET

After losing to archrival Auburn in their first meeting of the season a few weeks ago, the No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide were able to get some revenge on Saturday to close out their regular season. Alabama pulled off a dramatic, 93-91, overtime win on the road thanks to a Mark Sears buzzer-beater just as time expired, leaving the Auburn crowd in stunned silence.

Have a look.

MARK SEARS WITH A BAMA BUZZER-BEATER TO BEAT NO. 1 AUBURN IN OT! pic.twitter.com/6vsioJX8ib
— ESPN (@espn) March 8, 2025

Sears was only 3-of-9 from the field on Saturday and finished with nine points. But in this case, it was not the quantity that mattered — it was the timing.

The win closes out Alabama's regular season with a 24-7 record.

Alabama ended the regular season with a gauntlet of a schedule that saw it play seven consecutive games against ranked opponents, including four against top-five teams. The Crimson Tide went 3-4 in those games.

Auburn, meanwhile, ends its regular season on a two-game losing streak after losing to Texas A&M on Tuesday evening.

There is always the possibility that the two teams could meet again in the SEC tournament, and perhaps even in the NCAA tournament. If the first two meetings — and especially Saturday's game — are any indication, they would be incredible meetings with more at stake.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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