Alabama Beat Arkansas State 101-86 as Allen Records Fifth Triple-Double in Program History

Amari Allen recorded the fifth triple-double in Alabama program history as No. 20 Alabama beat Arkansas State 101-86 on Friday, Nov 6, 2026, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Allen finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Alabama improved to 2-0 with the win, and Arkansas State fell to 1-1.

Allen reached the mark in the second half. He got his 10th assist on a Brandon Garrison layup that made it 91-68 with 6:28 remaining. That pass put the game out of reach and put Allen in a small group in the Alabama record book.

A short list in Alabama history

Allen joined Aaron Estrada, Kira Lewis Jr. and Roy Rodgers as the only Alabama players with a triple-double. Estrada recorded his in 2024. Lewis recorded his in 2020. Rodgers recorded two in 1996, which is why the program total stands at five triple-doubles even though only four players have done it. Allen matched the feat with a line that covered the whole game: he scored, he rebounded and he created shots for teammates across the night.

The balance around Allen mattered as much as the record itself. Qayden Samuels scored a team-best 17 points for Alabama. Drew Fielder added 16 points. Garrison had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Tarris Bouie registered 12 points. Four Alabama players besides Allen scored at least 12 points while Allen ran the offense.

Slow start, second chances

The final score hides a rough opening for Alabama. The Crimson Tide missed 16 of their first 19 shots. Arkansas State had a chance to build an early lead against a ranked home team that could not make shots at the start. Alabama stayed in control of the game on the offensive glass instead. The Crimson Tide scored 24 second-chance points before halftime. Those extra possessions turned missed shots into points and kept Arkansas State from taking advantage of the cold start.

By the time Allen completed the triple-double, Alabama led by 23 points at 91-68. The Crimson Tide closed out a 15-point win at 101-86. A team that started 3 of 19 from the field still passed 100 points, and the second-chance scoring before halftime is the clearest reason the slow start did not cost Alabama the game.

Key numbers

• Final score: Alabama 101, Arkansas State 86
• Amari Allen: 16 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists
• Triple-doubles in Alabama program history: 5, by 4 players
• Qayden Samuels: team-best 17 points for Alabama
• Drew Fielder: 16 points for Alabama
• Brandon Garrison: 14 points and 10 rebounds for Alabama
• Tarris Bouie: 12 points for Alabama
• Second-chance points before halftime: Alabama 24
• Records: Alabama 2-0, Arkansas State 1-1

Both teams short-handed

Alabama guard Aden Holloway sat out Friday while serving the final contest of a five-game suspension. Arkansas State was also missing a player. Transfer Tameron Ferguson missed the game after sustaining a broken nose in practice on Thursday. Neither absence changed the record at the center of the night. The Crimson Tide are 2-0, with the fifth triple-double in program history recorded in their second game of the season.