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A lighting malfunction caused a brief delay to start the Auburn-Alabama basketball game on Wednesday, but not before the two teams played out the first possession!
The lights dimmed in Coleman Coliseum right after the opening tip, but the pause in action wouldn’t begin until after Auburn ran its offensive set.
The Tigers won the initial jump ball and quickly drained a three-pointer – in the dark!
Following a myriad of passes, Auburn found Johni Broome on the wing for a jump shot. Despite the unexpected conditions, he sank the trey to give the Tigers a quick 3-0 lead.
Wife asks “Why are they in the dark?”
Auburn’s Johni Broome hits a 3P to start the game anyway
Lighting delay in Alabama
Broome = 🐐 pic.twitter.com/v3QaMCZBIh
— Mike Randle (@RandleRant) January 25, 2024
After connecting on that first shot, a stop in the action was called.
Both teams hit their respective benches during the delay, which the Alabama crowd took as an opportunity to belittle their rival opponent.
“F— you, Auburn,” chants quickly echoed throughout the venue walls as the Tide expressed their disdain for the Tigers.
Alabama students chant f-u Auburn as the arena crew tries to get the lights to work. pic.twitter.com/giijZVYYwy
— Michael Casagrande (@ByCasagrande) January 25, 2024
The issue would eventually be fixed, allowing the first half to continue.
After hitting that first shot, Auburn would go on to miss its next nine three-point attempts before halftime. Maybe they should’ve kept the lights off!
Alabama took advantage of Auburn’s poor shooting start to land an SEC and rivalry win, 79-75.