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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Alabama softball ace Jocelyn Briski is prepared for opportunity vs UCLA in WCWS
Alabama softball ace Jocelyn Briski is prepared for the Crimson Tide’s opportunity vs. UCLA at the Women’s College World Series.
It’s win or go home for half of the Women’s College World Series field on Friday, May 29.
In the nightcap of the WCWS elimination games is No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arkansas, two teams that suffered come-from-behind wins on May 28 by Alabama and Nebraska, respectively. The Bruins couldn’t take advantage of back-to-back home runs against Jocelyn Briski in the third, eventually falling 6-3 to the top-seeded Crimson Tide.
Watch UCLA vs Arkansas softball live with Fubo (free trial)
The Razorbacks’ loss was arguably more painful (or, at least, took longer). Arkansas twice led against Nebraska and USA Softball Player of the Year Jordy Frahm, but was unable to maintain either lead before Ava Kuszak walked the Razorbacks off in the bottom of the 10th inning in the 5-3 defeat.
Now the Bruins and Razorbacks both must gear up for a second game in as many days, with their WCWS hopes on the line. Here’s how to watch as UCLA takes on Arkansas in a pivotal win-or-go-home game:
What TV channel is UCLA vs Arkansas softball on today?
ESPN will broadcast Friday’s elimination game between UCLA and Arkansas. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which carries the ESPN family of networks and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Stream WCWS games live with Fubo (free trial)
UCLA vs Arkansas softball time today
- Date: Friday, May 29
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET | 8:30 p.m. CT
- Location: Devon Park (Oklahoma City)
First pitch for UCLA vs. Arkansas is set for 9:30 p.m. ET on May 29 from Devon Park in Oklahoma City.
WCWS bracket, schedule 2026
All times Eastern
Thursday, May 28
- Game 1: No. 11 Texas Tech 8, Mississippi State 0 (5 innings) (RECAP)
- Game 2: No. 7 Tennessee 6, No. 2 Texas 3 (RECAP)
- Game 3: No. 1 Alabama 6, No. 8 UCLA 3 (RECAP)
- Game 4: No. 4 Nebraska 5, No. 5 Arkansas 3 (10 innings) vs. (RECAP)
Friday, May 29
- Game 5: Mississippi State vs. No. 2 Texas | 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
-
Game 6: No. 8 UCLA vs. No. 5 Arkansas | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Saturday, May 30
- Game 7: No. 11 Texas Tech vs. No. 7 Tennessee | 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 8: No. 4 Nebraska vs. No. 1 Alabama 7 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Sunday, May 31
- Game 9: 3 p.m. | ABC (Fubo)
- Game 10: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Monday, June 1
- Game 11: Noon | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 12 (if necessary): 2:30 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
- Game 13: 7 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
- Game 14 (if necessary): 9:30 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Wednesday, June 3
- WCWS finals Game 1: 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Thursday, June 4
- WCWS finals Game 2: 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Friday, June 5
- WCWS finals Game 3 (if necessary): 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
Arkansas
Dave Van Horn press conference: Arkansas baseball coach, players preview NCAA Lawrence Regional | Whole Hog Sports
Hunter Yurachek is “extremely concerned and displeased” about the late kickoff.
(Michael Woods | AP) Hunter Yurachek, Arkansas vice chancellor and director of athletics, speaks during a news conference, Wednesday, April 10, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark.
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