Saturday’s matchup between No. 7 Alabama and No. 1 Auburn was already going to be intense, with the in-state rivalry and both teams among the top three squads in the SEC.
But Alabama’s Grant Nelson kicked things up a notch with a poster dunk over the Tigers’ Dylan Cardwell midway through the first half of a 93-91 overtime win.
The statement throwdown gave Alabama a six-point lead (which became a 28-21 margin after Nelson made a foul shot for a 3-point play), then Nelson stirred up Auburn and its home fans by striking a “Karate Kid” crane pose directly in front of Johni Broome.
No, that wasn’t Nelson throwing a “War Eagle” right back at Auburn, as ESPN broadcaster Karl Ravech initially called. That was the “Crimson Crane,” which the Alabama football team popularized during the 2021 football season.
Since receivers Jameson Williams and John Metchie struck Daniel Russo’s iconic pose from “The Karate Kid,” the crane has become a taunting gesture between the in-state rivals. As AL.com’s Mike Rodak reported in 2022, the “Crimson Crane” has been displayed during gymnastics meets between Alabama and Auburn, in addition to swimming and diving events and club hockey matches.
Alabama held a 45-42 lead over Auburn at halftime. The two teams would battle back and forth throughout the second half, and both teams had a chance to win it in regulation but neither could find the net. In overtime, it was more of the same, with several lead changes before Alabama’s Mark Sears won it on a leaning floater in the lane as time expired.
Nelson led the Crimson Tide with 23 points and eight rebounds in the winning effort. Broome, a leading candidate to win the national player of the year award, led all scorers with 34 points and added eight rebounds, five blocks, three steals and three assists.
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