TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Mark Sears scored 19 points and No. 2 Alabama survived a scare Friday, beating Arkansas State 88-79.

The game was tied with seven minutes remaining before Alabama scored 11 of the next 13 points, including three from Sears at the free throw line.

Labaron Philon, Clifford Omoruyi and Grant Nelson each scored 12 points for the Crimson Tide (2-0) but combined for just one 3-pointer. Alabama went 6 for 31 (19%) from behind the arc.

Arkansas State (1-1) was led by 20 points from Kobe Julien and 18 from Taryn Todd.

Takeaways

Arkansas State: The Red Wolves proved why they were the coaches’ choice to win the Sun Belt Conference and managed to push Alabama until the final minutes despite shooting 21.4% from 3-point range (6 for 28).

Alabama: The Crimson Tide survived a game against Arkansas State, coached by former Nate Oats assistant Bryan Hodgson. Alabama could find itself in closer games given the difficulty of its schedule, which includes games against No. 14 Purdue, No. 4 Houston and No. 25 Rutgers before Thanksgiving.

Key moment

Alabama made five of its six free throws in the final two minutes to keep Arkansas State at bay, quite a reversal after shooting just 63% from the free throw line in the first half ( 17 for 27).

Key statistic

The Crimson Tide attempted 44 free throws compared to 36 for the Red Wolves. In a game where the teams were separated by just one percentage point in field goal percentage and two percentage points in 3-point percentage, all eight extra attempts for Alabama were made. a difference.

To be continued

Alabama finishes its three-game homestand to open the season against McNeese State on Monday, while Arkansas State hosts Little Rock on Tuesday.

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