Only time will tell how meaningful the Iron Bowl will be for both teams in football this season, but the rivalry between Alabama and Auburn in basketball is getting off to an early start.
Long before SEC play begins, the Crimson Tide faced the Tigers in Birmingham for a fun exhibition battle as both try to tune up for the regular season.
Alabama is looking to compete in a deep conference after returning Aden Holloway and Amari Allen, while Auburn is banking on year two under Steven Pearl being much more successful than what was an agonizing year at times for the Tigers last season.
Here are the stats from Thursday night's exhibition game between these SEC rivals.
MORE:Louisville freshman shines in exhibition win over Kansas
Alabama vs. Auburn basketball box score
| 1st | 2nd | Final | |
| Alabama | 44 | 43 | 87 |
| Auburn | 41 | 44 | 85 |
Alabama stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG-FGA | 3P-3PA | FT-FTA |
| Jamarion Davis-Fleming | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Qayden Samuels | 27 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6-19 | 3-13 | 5-6 |
| Amari Allen | 28 | 23 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 7-12 | 2-3 | 7-9 |
| London Jemison | 23 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2-5 | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| Drew Fielder | 22 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2-6 | 0-3 | 1-2 |
| Keitenn Bristow | 29 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3-5 | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| TJ St. Louis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Jaxon Richardson | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Tarris Bouie | 31 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4-8 | 1-3 | 5-11 |
| Brandon Garrison | 21 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3-9 | 1-4 | 2-3 |
Auburn stats
| Player | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG-FGA | 3P-3PA | FT-FTA |
| Tahaad Pettiford | 25 | 11 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3-13 | 0-4 | 5-6 |
| Kevin Overton | 34 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6-7 | 6-13 | 8-10 |
| Caleb Williams | 27 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4-11 | 1-5 | 2-3 |
| Thomas Dowd | 27 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0-4 | 0-4 | 0-0 |
| Narcisse Ngoy | 14 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 2-3 |
| Bukky Oboye | 17 | 7 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3-5 | 0-1 | 1-2 |
| Blake Muschalek | 13 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 6-8 |
| Adam Olsen | 27 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4-10 | 4-10 | 0-0 |
| George Kimble III | 14 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0-5 | 0-3 | 4-4 |
MORE:Full box score as Duke bludgeons Tennessee in exhibition game
