Alabama @ Auburn preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2018 ) Alabama 81, Auburn 63

Alabama knocked off three ranked teams last month and looks to start February in style with a road victory against state-rival Auburn on Saturday night in an important crossroads SEC contest. The Crimson Tide beat No. 6 Kentucky and then-ranked Ole Miss before taking a double-digit lead and holding on for an 83-79 victory over 21st-ranked Mississippi State on Tuesday.

Coach Avery Johnson told reporters Alabama still has “malfunctions,” but continues to battle and possesses strong balance: “We had quite a few guys offensively contribute (Tuesday). When you have eight guys in the rotation with six, seven or more points, it’s kind of hard to scout where our offense is coming from.” The Crimson Tide, who have not won back-to-back games in almost a month, look to add to their NCAA Tournament resume against a Tigers team that is 5-5 since winning nine of its first 10 games and residing in the top 10. Auburn snapped a three-game losing streak by pulling away in the second half for a 92-58 victory over visiting Missouri on Wednesday, but is still under .500 in the SEC. “Three (losses) in a row, that wasn’t us,” Tigers junior forward Danjel Purifoy told reporters after scoring a season-high eight points against Missouri. “We just came out tonight just trying to be ourselves and play like we normally play.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT ALABAMA (13-7, 4-3 SEC): Freshman guard Kira Lewis Jr. leads the team in scoring (13.6) and assists (2.8) while sophomore backcourt mate John Petty has averaged 15 points the past four games to push his season mark to 11.8. Senior forward Donta Hall has raised his production level to 13.8 points and 10.5 rebounds per game over the last six and boasts 10 double-doubles - five in league play. Senior guard Riley Norris has also turned it up, averaging 13.5 points on 9-of-13 from the field over the past two games - almost seven above his season mark.

ABOUT AUBURN (14-6, 3-4): The Tigers drained 16-of-41 attempts from 3-point range Wednesday and have connected on 34 more than anyone in the league entering the weekend, making 36.7 percent overall - third in the SEC. Senior guard Bryce Brown tops the team in 3-point makes (71), scoring (16.8) and is 27-of-28 at the free throw line the last 10 games while junior guard Jared Harper (15.4 points) leads the league in assists (6.5). Sophomore forward Chuma Okeke leads the team in rebounds (6.3) and has averaged 12.8 points over the last five contests.

TIP-INS

1. Auburn junior C Austin Wiley (10.8 points, team-high 1.9 blocks) could return after missing four games with a leg injury.

2. Hall (729) needs two rebounds to move into 19th all time at Alabama and seven blocks to tie Jermareo Davidson (221) for fourth.

3. The Tigers are second in the SEC in steals per game (9.2) and the Crimson Tide sit last (4.4).

PREDICTION: Auburn 78, Alabama 72