Alabama basketball had just cut Auburn’s lead to three points at Coleman Coliseum, promoting the Tigers to take a timeout.

Early on during the break, the PA announcer asked the Alabama faithful to refrain from throwing any objects onto the court, after Tide fans in or near the student section evidently threw debris. After UA athletics director Greg Byrne paid a visit to the sideline, Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats added his voice.

Oats donned a microphone headset and pled with the crowd to stop.

“Whoever is throwing stuff, knock it off,” Oats said. “No, seriously. We’re trying to win the basketball game. We don’t need you guys costing us points out here.”

Fans throwing objects onto the playing surface, usually trash, was a notable trend throughout the football season. It happened during an Alabama game at LSU, when Tiger fans, unhappy about a penalty nullifying a third-down sack, began tossing objects while the PA announcer begged them to stop.

Those fans did end the act of rebellion, and LSU was not penalized on the play. The Tigers were fined by the SEC after the game, a stiff $250,000 penalty.

Alabama and Auburn was a battle of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation, with huge implications for the SEC regular-season title. The Tigers got out to an early lead, but the Crimson Tide was pulling closer at the time of Oats’ address.

Coleman Coliseum was the site of ESPN’s College Gameday on Saturday before the game. The matchup is being aired on ESPN.