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No. 2 Alabama basketball fends off Arkansas State upset bid | Live Updates
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- No. 2 Alabama basketball fends off Arkansas State upset bid | Live Updates
Alabama basketball welcomed a familiar face back to Coleman Coliseum on Friday.
Despite being stranded for two hours when the team bus broke down en route to Alabama, Arkansas State made it to Tuscaloosa against the odds to face the Crimson Tide in game No. 2 of the 2024-25 season.
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Arkansas State coach Bryan Hodgson , who was previously an assistant coach alongside Nate Oats at Alabama, played handyman on Thursday. However, the bump in the road cost the team a night of practice.
No. 2-ranked Alabama and Arkansas State are each preseason favorites to win their respective conferences, and the Red Wolves played like it despite an 88-79 loss to the Crimson Tide.
When Hodgson and company visited Coleman Coliseum last December, they returned to Jonesboro with an 89-65 loss.
Nov 25, 2021; Orlando, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nate Oats (center) looks on from the sideline against the Iona Gaels in the first half at HP Fieldhouse. Alabama assistant coaches Charlie Henry (far left) and Bryan Hodgson sit on the bench.
Pregame notes: Arkansas State basketball's bus breaks down, Red Wolves miss practice ahead of Alabama game
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A night of Crimson Chaos: Covering Alabama basketball from rowdy student section
Alabama downs Arkansas State for second win of 2024-25 season
Following up a 110-54 win on Monday, Alabama basketball defeated Arkansas State, 88-79, for its second win of the year.
Alabama basketball one away from double-digit lead...again
Another layup by returning Final Four starter Latrell Wrightsell Jr. sees Alabama basketball just shy of a 10-point advantage once again with 3:21 to the buzzer.
Arkansas State ties it up against Alabama
ASU's Rashaud Marshall made it a two-point game with a layup. Joseph Pinion delivered another to tie up the scoreboard, 68-68, with 7:08 on the clock.
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Grant Nelson continues to knock rust off
Nov 8, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide forward Grant Nelson (4) attempts to block a a pass by Arkansas State Red Wolves guard Terrance Ford Jr. (11) during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images
With a second-chance tip-in dunk, Grant Nelson looked to be knocking the rust off after dealing with an ab injury leading into the season. Alabama took a 58-51 lead over Arkansas State with 13:51 to go.
Labaron Philon rips lid off Coleman Coliseum to start second half
A steal and layup for the freshman stud brought a 51-46 second-half lead for Alabama − and Crimson Tide fans in the stands at Coleman Coliseum to their feet.
Arkansas State trails Alabama by three at halftime
After having established a 16-point lead with 6:01 to halftime, Alabama basketball heads into the locker room narrowly up 43-40 against a hungry Arkansas State team.
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Alabama basketball scoreless after two minutes
As of a missed three-point shot by Mark Sears with 2:25 to halftime, Alabama had been held scoreless by Arkansas State for more than two minutes. A successful three-point shot by ASU's Josh Hill saw the Red Wolves trail by six with 2:14 to halftime.
Turnovers turn up for Alabama basketball
Arkansas State is chasing down Alabama's 28-18 lead by taking advantage of turnovers. ASU's Derrian Ford scored after a bad pass by Grant Nelson, knocking off the rust after injury, Taryn Todd scored on a layup following an offensive foul for Jarin Stevenson.
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Alabama establishes ten-point lead with Labaron Philon
Alabama's Labaron Philon notched a ten-point lead on Arkansas State with 12:28 to halftime. The freshman drained a three and went one-for-two from the free throw line, a streaky spot for the Crimson Tide on Friday.
Mark Sears makes first basket, edges Alabama ahead
After Cliff Omoruyi reclaimed the lead for the Crimson Tide from the free throw line at 17:04 to halftime, SEC Preseason Player of the Year Mark Sears edged Alabama on ahead, 8-4, with a layup.
Red Wolves take lead from the arc
With 18:17 to halftime, Arkansas State took a 4-3 lead with a three-point jumper by Kobe Julien. Alabama freshman Derrion Reid proceeded to give the Red Wolves possession again with a turnover and was subbed out for Jarin Stevenson.
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Derrion Reid puts Crimson Tide on the board
Alabama basketball leads Arkansas State, 2-0, with 19:24 to halftime with a second-chance layup from freshman Derrion Reid.
Alabama basketball starting five announced
Alabama listed guards Labaron Philon and Mark Sears, forward Jarin Stevenson and Derrion Reid, along with center Clifford Omoruyi as starters ahead of tipoff on Friday.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball vs. Arkansas State live score updates
