Alabama is back on the floor Friday night after opening the 2026-27 season with a convincing 96-74 win over Sam Houston, and the Crimson Tide now turns to Arkansas State in a nonconference matchup at Coleman Coliseum.
Nate Oats’ team wasted no time setting the tone in its first game. Four Alabama players reached double figures, with London Jemison and Boise State transfer Drew Fielder pacing the offense with 15 points apiece.
Freshman forward Tarris Bouie chipped in 13, while sophomore Amari Allen added 12. Alabama took a 40-29 lead into halftime and stretched that margin to as many as 32 in the second half.
Arkansas State arrives in Tuscaloosa with a win of its own already on the board. The Red Wolves edged Toledo 71-70 on Monday behind 20 points and seven rebounds from Tameron Ferguson. Layne Taylor also scored 13 points in the opener.
Friday’s game will stream on SEC Network+ as Alabama continues its Week 1 schedule. Roger Hoover and Mo Finley will have the call from Coleman Coliseum, and ESPN+ is also listed among the streaming options.
Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on Friday, Nov. 6.
Alabama’s 2026-27 schedule is already rolling, with the Sam Houston win in the books and more home games ahead, including Arkansas State, Oakland and Seton Hall in the early stretch. The Crimson Tide also has nonconference dates with Baylor, Miami, Houston and St. John’s later in the season, along with a full SEC slate that includes trips to Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Texas and Auburn.
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