Both Nick Saban and High Freeze agree their teams could play better.

No. 8 Alabama leads Auburn 17-14 at halftime of the Iron Bowl, and Freeze is pleased – for the most pat – with the way his team handled hosting the Tide in the first half.

“Love the way they are playing hard,” Freeze told SEC on CBS at halftime. “We’re just not playing real smart sometimes. We blew a coverage up 14-10. Our crowd is in it. That’s a big momentum if you can get into half 14-10.

“We’re running the football well. Hopefully, we can get a stop coming out of the half, but I’m proud of our kids and coaches. Love our crowd here.”

Auburn has rushed for 181 yards in the first half but has managed just 20 yards through the air. Jarquez Hunter has 80 yards on 10 carries with a long of 42 yards. Damari Alston added 73 yards on six carries, including a 56-yard run.

Saban, on the other hand, appeared frustrated during his halftime interview with the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

“We had two touchdowns called back on penalties,” he said. “Lost the momentum of the game, not playing very well on defense, not stopping the run. We need to do a better job of that in the second half.”

The Tide’s five penalties have come at the worst times, wiping out two touchdowns.

Kendrick Law ran for what looked like a 40-yard, first-quarter touchdown on fourth-and-short, but it nullified by a holding penalty.

In the second quarter, facing a third-and-7 from the Auburn 10, Jalen Milroe hit Amari Niblack in the end zone. However, the Alabama quarterback was beyond the line of scrimmage, and the settled for a Will Reichard field goal.

Saban also added his offense needs to finish drives.

The Tide gets the ball in the second half.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.