Sports
No. 2 Alabama Edges Out Scrappy Arkansas State Squad Led By Former Tide Assistant
Alabama got just about all it could handle Friday as Arkansas State battled in a game that was much closer than the scoreboard might show.
TUSCALOOSA, AL — No. 2 Alabama got all that it could handle and then some from a familiar foe as the Crimson Tide improved to 2-0 with a 88-79 win over Arkansas State Friday night in Coleman Coliseum.
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The game was a homecoming of sorts for Red Wolves head coach Bryan Hodgson, who was an assistant for Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats for four years before taking the job at Arkansas State after the 2022-23 season.
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ALSO READ: Arkansas State's Bryan Hodgson Talks 'Bittersweet' Return To Tuscaloosa
The Crimson Tide started sluggish on the offensive side in the first half and particularly struggled at first at the free throw line, going a regrettable 17-27.
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All-American guard Mark Sears reached double figures in the first half despite going only 3-7 from the field thanks to his 6-8 on free throws as Alabama went into the half up 43-40.
The scrappy visitors from Jonesboro played a tough second half despite Alabama's advantage in the depth of its bench, with the game dominated by excessive numbers of fouls from both teams.
Four other Tide players got into double figures in the win: Derrion Reid (10), Labaron Philon (12), Grant Nelson (12) and Clifford Omoruyi (12).
Omoruyi, a transfer from Rutgers, led Alabama with nine rebounds on the night, while Nelson contributed six.
Sears finished the game with 19 points, going 4-12 from the floor and 11-16 on free throws.
Missed shots by both squads told much of the story of the evening as the two teams each shot 41% from the floor, with Alabama going 27-for-66. The Tide also shot a pedestrian 19% from three-point range.
The Tide also continued to struggle from the free throw line in the second half, finishing the game 25-of-41 from the charity stripe.
The Crimson Tide will return to action Monday, Nov. 11 when McNeese State comes to Coleman Coliseum, with tipoff set for 6 p.m.
The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+
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