Alabama basketball struggled from the field, but when it mattered most pulled away late to get the win in Coleman Coliseum.
Alabama basketball let Arkansas State hang around throughout the game, but was able to pull away late with an 88-79 win despite struggling from behind-the-arc, making only six threes.
The hard hat for the game went to Latrell Wrightsell Jr..
“We needed to be pushed and they exposed some stuff we have to work on,” head coach Nate Oats said.
Takeaway #1: Alabama Dominates Glass
Despite only winning the rebounding battle on paper 50-41, the difference in the ballgame was the offensive rebounding. The Tide had 14 offensive rebounds to Arkansas State’s eight but had 21 second-chance points to the Red Wolves’ 7. Most rebounds were from threes, which always gives the opportunity for tip-ins and long rebounds to reset the possession.
Despite being in foul trouble and not playing for the last eight minutes of the game, Clifford Omoruyi was one off his first double-double in 17 minutes and led the team with nine rebounds.
“We really won the game on the offensive boards with the second chance points,” Oats said.
Takeaway #2: Struggles from three
With the team shooting 6-31 from three, Alabama had to find different ways to score. Whether scoring 42 points in the paint or shooting 28-44 from the free-throw line, the numbers do not lie, but the Tide missed tons of good looks from downtown that usually would go down on any given night, but just not tonight.
Mark Sears shot 0-5 from three tonight and only had that happen twice last season versus Florida and LSU. Sears still put up 19 points, with 11 of those from the charity stripe.
Takeaway #3: Staying out of foul trouble
With bigger games on the horizon and the whistles being called tighter, Alabama will need to be more disciplined in not fouling. Omoruyi, Aden Holloway, and Jarin Stevenson all had four fouls on the night of the team’s 24 total fouls, which led to the Red Wolves shooting 23-36 from the line. The Tide will need its bigs to be out of foul trouble so it is not forced to run a smaller lineup or an inexperienced lineup late into the game.
With the Tide playing plenty of big games in non-conference and SEC play comes tighter officiating. The Tide will need to be disciplined in that area to not commit any questionable fouls that could have been preventable.
Next up for Alabama (2-0): vs. Arkansas State (1-0) – Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. EST
Next up for Arkansas State (1-1): vs. Arkansas-Little Rock (1-0) – Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. EST