Charles Bediako dominated the paint with 18 points and 12 rebounds as Alabama pulled away from Auburn 82-71 in a crucial SEC matchup at Coleman Coliseum on Tuesday night, keeping the Crimson Tide’s conference championship hopes alive.
The 7-foot senior center shot 8-of-11 from the field and controlled the glass against Auburn’s smaller frontcourt, helping Alabama (19-6, 11-3 SEC) maintain its position atop the conference standings. Bediako’s performance marked his eighth double-double of the season and his best scoring output since dropping 22 points against Tennessee in January.
Physical Presence Changes Game’s Tempo
Auburn entered the game averaging 78.2 points per contest, but Bediako’s rim protection limited the Tigers to just 42.3% shooting from the field. The Nigerian-born center blocked four shots and altered countless others, forcing Auburn into difficult perimeter attempts.
“Charles was exactly what we needed tonight,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said after the victory. “His presence in the paint changed everything for us defensively, and he was efficient on the offensive end.”
The turning point came midway through the second half when Alabama trailed 58-55. Bediako scored eight consecutive points during a 12-2 run that gave the Crimson Tide control. His putback dunk with 8:47 remaining energized the home crowd and put Auburn in a deficit they couldn’t overcome.
SEC Championship Race Tightens
With the victory, Alabama maintains a two-game lead over Tennessee (17-8, 9-5 SEC) in the conference standings with four regular-season games remaining. The Crimson Tide has won six of their last seven games, with their only loss coming in a one-point heartbreaker at Arkansas.
Auburn (18-7, 8-6 SEC) entered the contest riding a four-game winning streak but couldn’t match Alabama’s interior presence. Tigers forward Johni Broome, who averages 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, managed just 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting against Bediako’s defense.
“We knew this was going to be a physical game,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said. “Bediako is one of the best centers in the conference, and he showed why tonight. We couldn’t establish our inside game like we wanted to.”
Supporting Cast Steps Up
While Bediako anchored the frontcourt, Alabama’s backcourt provided the necessary scoring punch. Mark Sears contributed 19 points and six assists, while Rylan Griffen added 16 points on 4-of-7 shooting from three-point range.
The Crimson Tide shot 51.4% from the field and outrebounded Auburn 41-32, with Bediako accounting for nearly 30% of the team’s total rebounds. Alabama’s balanced attack helped overcome a slow start that saw them trail 18-12 in the opening minutes.
Bediako, who transferred from Alabama to play professionally overseas before returning this season, has emerged as a cornerstone of the Crimson Tide’s championship aspirations. His 10.2 points and 7.8 rebounds per game have provided the interior presence Alabama lacked in previous seasons.
March Madness Implications
The victory strengthens Alabama’s resume for a potential No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide currently ranks 8th in the NET rankings and holds quality wins over Houston, North Carolina, and now Auburn twice this season.
For Auburn, the loss doesn’t significantly damage their tournament chances, but it makes their path to a high seed more challenging. The Tigers remain safely in most bracket projections as a No. 4 or 5 seed despite the setback.
“We’re focused on taking care of business one game at a time,” Bediako said. “This was a big win, but we have more work to do if we want to accomplish our goals.”
Alabama returns to action Saturday when they travel to face Mississippi State, while Auburn hosts Georgia on the same day.
