Johni Broome, No. 1 Auburn Hyped By Fans as Best Team in CBB After Win vs. Alabama

The first match of the basketball Iron Bowl has gone to the Auburn Tigers.

No. 1 Auburn took down No. 2 Alabama 94-85 Saturday afternoon to earn their ninth win on the season over teams currently ranked in the Top 25.

"We acted like we were the No. 1 team. We prepared like we were the No. 1 team. And we are the No. 1 team in the country," Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl said after the game.

The Tigers took a 42-33 lead at halftime but Alabama was able to tie it in the second half at 63 with under eight minutes remaining. Despite blowing the lead, the Tigers quickly grabbed a sizable lead and were able to outlast the Crimson Tide the rest of the way.

Auburn was led by Johni Broome, who had 19 points, 14 rebounds and six assists. Denver Jones had 16 points and Miles Kelly had 15 while Chad Baker-Mazar, Chaney Johnson and Tahaad Pettiford for 15, 14 and 13 points respectively off of the bench.

Fans took to social media to praise the Tigers quality win and project the team's potential in March Madness.

Auburn improved to 23-2 on the season and will retain the No. 1 seed in the country. The Tigers also now have a one-game lead over the Crimson Tide for the No. 1 seed in the SEC.

Both teams will now head into the rest of conference play before finishing the regular season with the rematch at Auburn. That game is scheduled for March 8.