Arkansas
No. 2 Alabama uses second-half run to beat Arkansas State 88-79 and avoid upset
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Mark Sears scored 19 points and No. 2 Alabama survived an upset scare on Friday, beating Arkansas State 88-79.
The game was tied with seven minutes left before Alabama scored 11 of the next 13 points, three of them 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 only combined for 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’ pick to win the Sun Belt Conference and were able to push Alabama to the final minutes despite shooting 21.4% from 3-point range (6 for 28).
Alabama: The Crimson Tide survived a game against Arkansas State, which is coached by former Nate Oats assistant Bryan Hodgson. Alabama could find itself in more close games given the difficulty of its schedule, which features 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 the reversal from shooting just 63% from the free throw line in the first half (17 for 27).
Key stat
The Crimson Tide attempted 44 free throws compared to the Red Wolves’ 36. In a game where the teams were only separated by one percentage point in field-goal percentage and two percentage points in 3-point percentage, the extra eight attempts for Alabama made a difference.
Up next
Alabama finishes its three-game homestand to start the season against McNeese State on Monday, while Arkansas State hosts Little Rock on Tuesday.
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John Brummett
John Brummett’s career in news began when he was in high school, as a part-time reporter for the Arkansas Democrat. He moved to the Arkansas Gazette in 1977.
He wrote a political column for the Gazette from 1986 to 1990. He was an editor for the Arkansas Times from 1990 to 1992.
In 1994, his book, “High Wire: From the Back Roads to the Beltway, the Education of Bill Clinton,” was published by Hyperion of New York City. He became a columnist with the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 1994. In 2000, he signed a deal with Donrey Media Group, now known as Stephens Media, and wrote for them for 11 years.
He rejoined Democrat-Gazette as a columnist on Oct. 24, 2011.
Ole Miss basketball continues conference play with its SEC home-opener against No. 15 Arkansas and coach John Calipari.
The Rebels (8-6, 0-1 SEC) will host the Razorbacks (11-3, 1-0) at Sandy and John Black Pavilion on Jan. 7 (8 p.m. CT, SEC Network). This will be the second time this season Ole Miss faces a ranked team.
Ole Miss coach Chris Beard’s squad will be challenged with shutting down the Razorbacks, who have the best 3-point percentage in the SEC at 39.1%.
Ole Miss basketball vs. Arkansas live score updates
When does Ole Miss basketball vs. Arkansas start?
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 7
- Time: 8 p.m. CT
- Where: Sandy and John Black Pavilion, Oxford
What TV channel is Ole Miss vs. Arkansas on today?
- TV: SEC Network
- Streaming: SEC Network
- How to watch online: FUBO (Free trial)
Ole Miss vs. Arkansas prediction
Arkansas 88, Ole Miss 71: Arkansas is a talented team with a balanced offense that should have few problems overcoming Ole Miss, despite the Rebels being second in the SEC in scoring defense.
Ole Miss basketball 2025-26 schedule
Next five games
- Jan. 10: Missouri (5 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
- Jan. 14: at Georgia (6 p.m. CT, ESPN2/ESPNU)
- Jan. 17: at Mississippi State (7:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network)
- Jan. 20: Auburn (8 p.m. CT, ESPN/ESPNU)
- Jan. 24: at Kentucky (11 a.m. CT, ESPN)
Tia Reid covers Jackson State sports for the Clarion Ledger. Email her at treid@usatodayco.com and follow her on X @tiareid65.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) – Law enforcement officials are searching for a missing Arkansas man on the east side of Franklin County, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
Daniel Harold Wenger, 26, was with his friends in Bay County, and they reported him missing on Sunday to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. He was added to the missing persons database on Monday, according to FCSO.
Wenger’s truck was found abandoned on Tuesday in Franklin County at Leonard’s Landing, and authorities also located his discarded jacket.
Law enforcement is searching the wooded areas near his car across from Leonard’s Landing and Bay North.
Those with information about Wnger’s whereabouts are encouraged to call FCSO at 850-670-8500.
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