No. 2 Alabama narrowly defeated Arkansas State 88-79 in a closely contested basketball game on Friday night. The Crimson Tide, now 2-0, relied heavily on free throws, converting 28 of 44 attempts, while Arkansas State managed 23 of 36. Both teams shot around 40% from the field, but Alabama struggled from beyond the arc, hitting only 19% of its three-point attempts. Arkansas State rallied from a 16-point deficit to tie the game at 70, led by Kobe Julien's 20 points and Taryn Todd's 18. In the final minutes, Alabama pulled away with a decisive 11-2 run, showcasing strong defensive efforts. The game marked a homecoming for Arkansas State's coach Bryan Hodgson, a former assistant at Alabama.