AUBURN, Ala. – While Auburn coach Bruce Pearl conducted a postgame television interview, the Tigers retreated to the locker room to celebrate their rivalry sweep with song, dance and a prop befitting the occasion – a broom.
For Auburn basketball teams, such celebrations in Coleman Coliseum have been rare, with Auburn winning only eight times in 50 tries prior to Tuesday's 66-60 comeback victory.
"It's a great feeling to beat Alabama," Pearl told his team. "It lasts all year long. It lasts all summer. It lasts on campus. You'll see how people are going respond to this."
Pearl quickly transitioned the conversation into a teachable moment, detailing shortcomings that led to Auburn failing behind by 13 in the first half, with an eye on Saturday's regular season finale against Tennessee.
"We didn't try to force turnovers, we didn't try to make things difficult for them, right?" he said. "And that's not who we are. We can't beat anybody like that. We can beat great teams if we decide that we're going to just make life difficult for them.
"We almost gave it away because we didn't come out and we didn't engage, we didn't guard. And you've got to be accountable. You've got to step up. If you're going to talk the talk, you've got to walk the walk. That's where the opportunity is.
"I just hope that what this does is give you some confidence in each other. Look at all the guys who had to make plays to put you in position to beat Alabama twice, to beat Georgia twice. I know I'm grateful. I know the coaches are as well for each and every one of you."
Leading scorers Chuma Okeke (17 points, 14 rebounds) and Jared Harper (16) starred, but seven other players contributed to the win. Samir Doughy grabbed five rebounds, made three steals and hit a corner 3 in crunch time. Malik Dunbar scored eight points during Auburn's second half rally including a game-tying 3-pointer.
J'Von McCormick played 14 turnover-free minutes and gave Auburn its first lead of the second half with 10:07 to play.
Bryce Brown hit a tie-breaking 3-pointer at the 4:21 mark. Anfernee McLemore capped Auburn's decisive 18-2 run with a dunk, blocked two shots and made a steal.
Those efforts helped Auburn complete sweeps of rivals Alabama and Georgia in the same season for the first time in 52 years.
"We had a few key plays, some key contributions," Pearl told reporters after meeting with his team. "Samir was good in the first half, got in foul trouble. Malik was good in the second half. We kind of grinded it out."
After sweeping Alabama for the second time in three years, the Tigers return to Auburn Arena Saturday at 11 a.m. CT against the Volunteers on ESPN, seeking their fourth straight SEC win before next week's conference tournament.
"Do your best work," Pearl told the Tigers in his closing remarks. "Let's get ready now."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer