Retin Obasohan scored a career-high 27 points against Auburn, but it wasn’t enough to prevent coach Avery Johnson from dropping his first game in the rivalry, inside of Auburn Arena, as the Tigers outscored Alabama 83-77.

Alabama used a 22-4 run in the first half to take 24-14 lead, but the Crimson Tide quickly found itself on the wrong end of a run that allowed Auburn to finish the first half with a 40-37 lead it wouldn’t lose for the remainder of the game.

“It was a loss but I am proud of our guys,”Johnson said. “We battled through a lot of adversity tonight and showed what they are made of. We have a lot of character on our team and a lot of mental toughness. For us being together for the first year with a lot of new guys who have never played in the this building or never played in this rivalry, I am proud of my team.”

Shannon Hale finished the game with 13 points for Alabama and teammate Jimmie Taylor led the team with eight rebounds.

Auburn’s Kareem Canty led the shot 5-8 beyond the arc to lead the Tigers to the victory with 25 points. Cinmeon Bowers also managed to score 20 points and grabbed 18 rebounds.

A total of 53 fouls were called during the game. Alabama managed to shoot 19-28 from the free-throw line, but Auburn shot more free throws (40) and made the most of them for 28 points.