Amari Allen recorded the fifth triple-double in Alabama history with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to help the 20th-ranked Crimson Tide produce a 101-86 victory over Arkansas State on Friday night in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Qayden Samuels scored a team-best 17 points and Drew Fielder added 16 points for the Crimson Tide (2-0). Brandon Garrison had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Tarris Bouie registered 12 points for Alabama.
Layne Taylor recorded 20 points, six assists and five rebounds and Chaz Watson scored 15 points for the Red Wolves (1-1). Jordan Pyke had 12 points, Amadou Doumbia added 11 and Aaron McGee tallied 10 for Arkansas State.
Red Wolves transfer Tameron Ferguson missed the game after sustaining a broken nose in practice on Thursday. A Division II All-American last season, Ferguson scored 20 points in Arkansas State’s season-opening win over Toledo.
Alabama guard Aden Holloway sat out Friday while serving the final contest of a five-game suspension for last March’s arrest for drug possession. The Crimson Tide’s three exhibition games were part of Holloway’s penalty.
The Crimson Tide shot just 35.5% from the field, including 15 of 50 from 3-point range.
The Red Wolves were 15 of 39 from behind the arc and shot 42.1% overall.
Alabama played poorly over the first 15-plus minutes and trailed 32-30 after Arkansas State’s Delang Muon scored on a dunk.
Fielder then knocked down a 3-pointer to start a half-ending 21-2 burst. Samuels connected on one trey, Allen drained two in a row to give the Crimson Tide a 14-point lead and Fielder knocked down another in the final seconds as Alabama led 51-34 at halftime.
London Jemison drained a 3-pointer to start the second half and Brandon Garrison followed with a dunk to give the Crimson Tide a 22-point advantage.
A short time later, Arkansas State trailed by 23 before rattling off 11 straight points. Pyke scored seven points during the burst as the Red Wolves moved within 67-55 with 14:42 remaining.
Bouie responded with a 3-pointer and Allen made two free throws to push the lead back to 17.
Pyke scored on a putback as Arkansas State crept within 79-67 with 8:15 remaining. But the Crimson Tide responded with an 8-0 run to make it a 20-point margin.
Allen achieved the triple-double with his 10th assist as he fed Garrison for a layup to make it 91-68 with 6:28 remaining.
Arkansas State played well early in the contest and led 19-11 after a basket by Doumbia with 11:47 left in the first half. The Red Wolves led 30-25 on McGee’s 3-pointer with 7:12 left in the half shortly before Alabama got hot.
Arkansas State only converted 7 of 16 free throw attempts.
