Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (11/05/2026) — Behind a triple-double from Amari Allen and a devastating late first-half surge, the Alabama Crimson Tide pulled away from the Arkansas State Red Wolves for a 101-86 victory at Coleman Coliseum on Thursday night before 11,291 fans.
Result
Alabama held off a scrappy Arkansas State club that led for much of the opening period before the Crimson Tide's depth, rebounding muscle, and a historic individual performance took over. The final margin was 15 points, but it wasn't that close after halftime.
How It Happened
The Red Wolves served early notice this would not be a walkover. Layne Taylor heated up quickly, drilling three-pointers at 17:53, 17:11, and 15:55 of the first half to push Arkansas State out to as many as a five-point advantage. The Red Wolves held their edge through much of the opening period, maintaining a 30-25 lead as late as the 7:12 mark after Aaron McGee connected from 26 feet.
Alabama answered each thrust. The Crimson Tide knotted the score four times — matching the Red Wolves at 4-4, 7-7, 19-19, and later at the rim — before Drew Fielder buried a three-pointer off a Brandon Garrison assist at the 4:13 mark to give Alabama the lead for good at 33-32.
What followed broke the game open. Qayden Samuels drained a 25-footer to push the margin to 40-34 with 2:05 remaining, then Amari Allen ignited Coleman Coliseum by connecting on back-to-back deep three-pointers at the 1:02 and 0:43 marks to extend the lead to 48-34. Fielder punctuated the surge with a 25-footer at the buzzer, sending Alabama into the locker room with a 51-34 advantage.
The Crimson Tide carried that energy directly into the second half. London Jemison opened the second period with a 24-foot three-pointer, and Garrison followed with a dunk off an Allen feed to push the margin to 56-34 — completing a stunning stretch that rendered the final 20 minutes a matter of degree rather than outcome.
Turning Point
The decisive sequence arrived in the final four minutes of the first half and the opening minutes of the second. What had been a 33-32 Alabama advantage transformed into a 22-point cushion, with the Crimson Tide running off a 19-0 burst that the Red Wolves never answered. Despite Amadou Doumbia drilling a three-pointer to open Arkansas State's second-half scoring at the 18:20 mark, the Red Wolves spent the remainder of the contest chasing a lead they could not recover.
Star of the Game
Amari Allen was the engine driving Alabama's offense all night. The forward registered a triple-double — 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists — a performance that touched every dimension of the game. Allen distributed finds to Jemison, Tarris Bouie, Samuels, Fielder, and Garrison throughout the evening while also drilling back-to-back deep three-pointers during Alabama's first-half closing run. His 13 rebounds anchored a Crimson Tide club that controlled the glass by a 58-46 margin.
Samuels paced Alabama with 17 points. Fielder contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Garrison posted 14 points and 10 rebounds, making it four Alabama contributors in double figures.
What It Means
For the Alabama Crimson Tide, Thursday's win demonstrated resilience and depth. Alabama shot just 36 percent from the field and 30 percent from three — both marks below Arkansas State's 42 and 38 percent, respectively — yet the Crimson Tide's decisive advantages came on the glass and in ball security: 58 rebounds to 46, and only 14 turnovers compared to 19 for the Red Wolves. The ability to win comfortably while shooting below their ceiling suggests real upside.
For Arkansas State, Taylor's 20-point, six-assist effort offered genuine promise. The Red Wolves were competitive through the first 16 minutes, and Taylor's perimeter shooting — he connected on three first-half three-pointers — kept the visitors within striking range for most of the period. Doumbia added 11 points and 10 rebounds. But the turnover margin and an inability to match Alabama's size on the boards proved the difference once the Crimson Tide locked in.
