GAME NOTES: The Alabama Crimson Tide will try to end a three-game losing streak when they challenge their Southeastern Conference rivals, the Auburn Tigers, on Saturday night at Coleman Coliseum.

The Tigers dropped their third conference game on Wednesday, when they were defeated by Mississippi State, 78-71. The loss put Auburn's league record at 2-3 and overall mark at 10-8.

Alabama lost its third straight game on Thursday when it fell to Arkansas in overtime, 93-91. The losing streak has dropped the Crimson Tide's SEC record to 2-3, and overall record to 12-6.

This game marks the 150th meeting between these schools on the hardwood, with Alabama leading the series 90-59. The teams split their games against one another last season, as Auburn won 74-55 on Jan. 30, and Alabama won 73-57 on March 1.

Auburn connected on just 26.9 percent of its first-half field goal attempts against Mississippi State, and headed into halftime down 31-22. The Tigers shot much better in the final period, as they converted 50 percent of their tries from the field. But Auburn allowed the Bulldogs to net 46.4 percent of their shot attempts throughout the game, leading to the Tigers' eighth defeat this season. Auburn was outrebounded 44-33 and made just 56.5 percent of its free throw attempts. KT Harrell led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points, while Cinmeon Bowers finished with a double-double of 16 points and 17 rebounds.

Harrell leads the Tigers in scoring with 17.2 ppg, the second highest average in the SEC. Bowers leads Auburn in rebounding with 11.6 rpg, the best mark in the league. The Tigers average 67.9 ppg and shoot 41 percent from the field. They have the lowest free-throw percentage in the SEC (.639). Defensively, Auburn is allows 68 ppg and allows opponents to net 44.8 percent of their field goal tries. Auburn is in the black in the turnover margin (+2.4), and in the red in rebounding margin (-3.5).

Alabama shot 49.1 percent from the field throughout its game against Arkansas, including an impressive 50 percent from 3-point distance. The Crimson Tide also made 82.1 percent of their free throw attempts. Despite making just 40.8 percent of their field goal attempts, the Razorbacks forced 17 turnovers and were able to hang around long enough to force overtime and win the game on a Bobby Portis' tip-in with one second left in the extra period. Justin Coleman (22 points) and Ricky Tarrant (21 points) led Alabama in scoring.

Levi Randolph is the top scorer for the Crimson Tide with 14.8 ppg (eighth in the SEC), while Tarrant is right behind him with 13.3 ppg. Alabama averages 70.2 ppg and connects on 45.1 percent of its field goal tries. The Crimson Tide have the second-best free-throw shooting average in the SEC (.737). Alabama is allowing opponents to score 64.2 ppg and connect on 41.2 percent of their shot attempts.

Both teams match up well against one another, and this should be a great game between two heated, in-state rivals. Expect Alabama's free throw shooting to be the reason its losing streak ends on Saturday.