Auburn delivered what may have been its most complete performance of the season, never trailing in a highly anticipated road matchup against No. 2 Alabama. The Crimson Tide entered the matchup playing some of their best basketball of the year, but the Tigers' shooting and defensive efforts were key in the win. The Tigers made 12 threes and held Alabama to under 40 percent shooting from the field and just 19.2 percent from deep.
Denver Jones led the way for Auburn in both of these aspects. While Jones has had his inconsistencies this year, leading some to question his impact, he quieted any doubts with his performance on Saturday - especially on defense.
"Honestly, it was just listening to the game plan," Jones said. "Our coaches put a great game plan in — how to guard their actions, especially the hardest actions. Honestly, it was just listening to that and trusting my teammates."
Jones was guarding Mark Sears for most of the night and Sears finished 4-of-17 from the field and 2-of-11 from three as he looked uncomfortable all night long due to Jones' defensive efforts. In addition, Alabama's guards struggled as a whole due to Auburn's relentless on-ball pressure. Led by Jones, the Tigers' backcourt excelled in communication and defensive switching, disrupting Alabama's rhythm.
Jones also played well offensively, coming off a night versus Vanderbilt where he scored 21 points on five made 3-pointers.
Jones got hot versus the Tide and carried Auburn's offense to start the second half. He started the second half hitting three 3-pointers in the first five possessions and got a huge block during that stretch. This stretch gave Auburn a key double-digit advantage. He finished with 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 3-of-5 from three.
"Honestly, I was just coming out aggressively," Jones said. "If I had an open look, I was taking it. I was just trusting myself and trusting my teammates. I know my teammates believe in me. Then it's just taking that shot, honestly."
A key moment in the game was Jones sinking two crucial free throws after Alabama cut the lead to within five with 30 second remaining, effectively sealing the win. A reliable guard, such as Jones, who can deliver in clutch situations is essential for winning big games - especially in March.
Auburn's defense and shooting against Alabama were outstanding, fueled by a total team effort. However, Jones' impact is simply impossible to overlook. He is finding his rhythm at the perfect time for the Tigers and will look to build on these performances with March quickly approaching.
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Jack is a sophomore majoring in sports production. He started with The Plainsman in the fall 2024.
