Alabama-Auburn delayed after lights wouldn't turn on at Coleman Coliseum

As Alabama prepared to take on Auburn Wednesday night, the lights at Coleman Coliseum were off while the teams went through starting lineups. However, even after Johni Broome hit the first shot of the game, it was still dark — and the game entered a delay less than 30 seconds in.

Broome nailed a three-pointer after Auburn won the opening tip-off, but officials stopped play shortly afterward once the lights never turned back on. Crews immediately went to work, and the game was delayed more than 15 minutes as a result.

All the while, the fans got into it, with Alabama fans breaking into an NSFW chant amid the rivalry game.

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

Johni Broome just made a three in the dark pic.twitter.com/zNQeGlWsTX

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) January 25, 2024

The Alabama-Auburn rivalry, of course, is best known on the football field with the annual Iron Bowl game. But on the basketball court, things have picked up in recent years.

Alabama won five of six matchups against Auburn before Bruce Pearl took over the Tigers’ program in 2014. Since then, Auburn has 10 wins against the Crimson Tide in 21 matchups, making for an exciting matchup each time the two teams square off.

Nate Oats pointed that out when previewing Wednesday’s matchup, pointing out Auburn’s success under Pearl and how that added some juice to the rivalry.

“Coach Pearl came in, turned that program completely around,” Oats said. “You look at where it was before he got here, it was at the bottom of this league. The last three years the regular-season championships have been totally in the SEC, have been totally in the state of Alabama. We’ve got two of them, they’ve got one.”

Alabama entered Wednesday with a 12-6 record and saw its six-game winning streak come to an end last time out against Tennessee. As for Auburn, the Tigers rolled into the matchup with a 16-2 record — including 11 straight victories as they came in at No. 8 in the AP Top 25.

It’s looking like yet another impressive season for Auburn, which has had some notable names come through the program. That’s why Oats said it wouldn’t be easy, but the fans were sure to get into the game given the high stakes.

“They’ve done a good job,” Oats said. “I think someone told me in the last six years since 2017 there’s been nine first-round picks in the Alabama-Auburn games, so you look at the talent, they’ve had (Isaac) Okoro, Jabari Smith, they’ve had lottery picks. We’ve had Kira (Lewis), (Josh) Primo, Brandon Miller, multiple lottery picks, multiple first-round picks from both groups. There’s been a lot of talent.

“There’s been a lot of winning between the two programs. There hasn’t been a lot of blowouts, they’re all pretty close games. And the fans certainly get into it. Their environment over there is great, I’m sure our environment over here tomorrow will be great.”