No. 7 Alabama Stuns No. 1 Auburn with Overtime Buzzer-Beater as March Madness Looms
Sarah Johnson
March 9, 2025
Brief
Alabama stuns No. 1 Auburn with a last-second overtime buzzer-beater, as Mark Sears becomes the hero and Dick Vitale returns to the booth in a dramatic March Madness preview.
The NCAA tournament may still be days away, but March Madness wasted no time announcing its arrival. On Saturday, No. 7 Alabama pulled off a thrilling upset against top-ranked Auburn, securing a 93-91 win on the road with an unforgettable overtime buzzer-beater.
Mark Sears became the hero of the moment, driving into the paint and sinking a floater just as the clock hit zero. His nine-point contribution may not have been headline-worthy—until those final two points made it unforgettable.
Adding to the drama was legendary broadcaster Dick Vitale, who returned to the booth this season after battling cancer, delivering his signature "Are you serious?" call during the game’s climax. Honestly, Vitale’s enthusiasm is like a shot of espresso for sports fans everywhere.
For Alabama, the victory was more than just a win; it was sweet revenge. Last month, Auburn had gotten the better of them with a 94-85 triumph on Alabama’s home court. Saturday’s clash was neck-and-neck throughout, with neither team managing to pull ahead by more than eight points at any time. Even that slim lead by Alabama with 10 minutes left was swiftly erased.
Johni Broome kept Auburn’s hopes alive by hitting a clutch three-pointer with just 15 seconds remaining in overtime to tie the game at 91. But when the Crimson Tide got the ball back, Sears knew exactly what to do—and he delivered. Broome might have topped the scoring sheet with a game-high 34 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure the win.
Auburn, once seemingly untouchable after losing only two of their first 29 games, now finds themselves in a slump with two consecutive losses, including a road defeat to Texas A&M earlier this week. The Tigers will need to regroup, especially with the SEC Tournament looming large. If fate aligns, these two teams could find themselves in another high-stakes showdown next week.
March Madness is officially here, folks, and it’s already delivering the kind of nail-biting drama that makes sports fans lose sleep. Buckle up!
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Editor's Comments
Talk about drama! Mark Sears may have only scored nine points, but his last-second heroics turned him into an Alabama legend overnight. And Dick Vitale coming back to call such a game? It’s like the universe wanted this one to be unforgettable. Auburn’s sudden struggles make you wonder—are they feeling the pressure of their top ranking, or is this just a hiccup before the SEC Tournament?
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