Tuscaloosa, AL (SportsNetwork.com) - A Rodney Cooper layup with six seconds remaining in regulation proved to be the game winner as the Alabama Crimson Tide slipped by the Auburn Tigers, 57-55, in SEC action at Coleman Coliseum.

Cooper finished the night with eight points and five rebounds for the Crimson Tide (13-6, 3-3 SEC) as they snapped a three-game slide. Levi Randolph scored a team-best 18 points for Alabama as the team was forced to play a portion of the game without Ricky Tarrant who was ejected after being charged with a second technical foul.

The Tigers (10-9, 2-4) were paced by KT Harrell with a game-high 22 points, followed by Cinmeon Bowers and Antoine Mason with 14 and 13 points, respectively, as the squad lost for the third time in four games.

Both sides had trouble finding the basket in the first half as the Tide knocked down only eight field goals and Auburn nine baskets, but thanks to a 6-of-8 effort at the free-throw line Alabama was able to establish a 25-23 edge at the break.

In the second half the Alabama lead grew to five points in the opening moments, but the Tigers fought back in order to register a nine-point advantage of their own midway through the period. The Crimson Tide slowly chipped away and was able to tie the meeting at 50-50 with just over two minutes left on the clock.

Three more ties followed before Cooper played the hero in the waning moments for the hosts.