Qayden Samuels went off for 14 points in the first half of the Alabama-Auburn exhibition game Thursday night, leading the Crimson Tide to a tight 44-41 advantage over their arch-rivals in Birmingham. This isn’t even conference play yet, but this early-season battle definitely set the tone for what’s coming in the deep SEC.
Crimson Tide Drops An Early Statement
Alabama came out firing, looking every bit like a team ready to compete in a loaded conference. Yeah, it’s an exhibition, but when it’s against Auburn, you know it’s never “just” an exhibition. Qayden Samuels absolutely lit it up, racking up 14 points, grabbing a board, and dishing out two assists all before halftime. He went 4-for-11 from the field and sunk two crucial three-pointers, plus he was perfect from the free throw line, nailing all four attempts. But he wasn’t the only one making noise. Keitenn Bristow was a beast in the paint, chipping in 11 points, snagging five rebounds, and rejecting two shots. Amari Allen, one of the returning players alongside Aden Holloway, showed off his defensive prowess with three steals, while Tarris Bouie contributed six points, six boards, two steals, and a block. These guys are clearly tuning up, and if this first half is any indication, Alabama is going to be a force this season.
Auburn’s Second Year Under Pearl: More Agony?
On the other side, Auburn, with Steven Pearl in his second year hoping to turn things around from an “agonizing” season last year, found themselves trailing 44-41 at the break. They’ve got some work to do. Kevin Overton led their scoring with eight points, hitting two big threes and grabbing a rebound. Caleb Williams also chipped in seven points, making three of his seven shots. Tahaad Pettiford got to the line and made all four of his free throws, finishing with six points, three rebounds, and two assists. Narcisse Ngoy was efficient, dropping eight points on a perfect 3-for-3 from the field and adding four rebounds. Thomas Dowd didn’t score, but he hustled for five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. They showed flashes, but falling behind in a rivalry game, even an exhibition, isn’t the start Pearl was banking on.
Both teams are just getting warmed up for the regular season, but if this first-half slugfest tells us anything, it’s that the rivalry is already red-hot. When these two finally meet in SEC play, you know it’s going to be absolutely wild.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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