TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama found a nice way to take the sting out of consecutive losses.
Earnest Shelton and Kennedy Winston each scored 24 points to lead No. 21 Alabama to a 94-53 victory over Auburn on Wednesday night, the Crimson Tide's most lopsided victory over its top rival.
In a game when even seldom-used reserves were making highlight-reel dunks, everything seemed to go Alabama's way.
"They could have beaten the Lakers tonight," Auburn coach Jeff Lebo said, "and as you can see we're far from the Lakers."
Alabama (22-6, 11-4 Southeastern Conference) started a 36-9 run early in the second half to turn a nine-point game into a 36-point laugher and then coasted home. The Tide can clinch the West Division title and No. 2 seed in the league tournament with a win at Mississippi State on Saturday or an LSU loss.
Alabama was coming off close defeats to LSU and Kentucky, but didn't have to sweat this one for long.
"It's just great to play games like this," said Chuck Davis, who had 18 points, shooting 7-of-8. "You have so much fun. It was just a fun game."
For Alabama, at least.
The Tigers (12-16, 3-12) shot just 29 percent from the field and lost their fifth consecutive game, falling to 7-39 on their chief rival's home court. They will be the West Division's sixth seed at the league tournament.
Alabama dominated Division I's smallest lineup inside and outside, shooting 54 percent and making 11 of 22 3-pointers. The Tigers couldn't counter with their most reliable weapon, making a paltry six 3s and going 1-of-20 from beyond the arc after halftime.
The Tide made 21 of 24 free throws and dominated the boards 42-31. Winston was 5-of-6 on 3s and had 17 points in the first half while Shelton was perfect in four attempts after that in the senior's final home game.
It might also be Winston's home finale since the junior indicated this week that entering the NBA draft was a "very strong possibility." He was just savoring the rebound win.
"We had a rough week and Coach (Mark) Gottfried challenged us and told us it is a two-game season," Winston said.
Quinnel Brown led Auburn with 17 points and eight rebounds while leading scorers Toney Douglas and Ian Young each had seven points.
The Tide celebrated a little too much in the final minutes. Seldom-used reserves Jason Reese and Shawn Taylor were both whistled for technical fouls for hanging on the rim, and even Gottfried couldn't restrain a grin after the 6-foot-2 Reese's dunk.
"Everybody gets their 15 minutes and one shining moment, and he got his tonight," Gottfried said.
Or as Davis said, "That was crazy. I'm pretty sure that should be on (the highlights)."
And all but a few fans stayed until the end to savor the win long after the game was decided.
Alabama led by as many as 16 points in the first half and didn't commit a turnover for the first 13 minutes.
Frank Tolbert's steal, basket and free throw on the half's final play was about the only bright spot for the Tigers.
"They were so good tonight," Lebo said. "They got a good start in the second half and hit 3s. We got some good looks, but they would come down and hit 3s on one pass."
