TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Basketball team no. 2 Alabama survived a second game scare Friday night when the Arkansas Red Wolves entered Coleman Coliseum and tested the Crimson Tide. Alabama won the contest 88-79 to move to 2-0 on the young season, but a major issue plagued the Crimson Tide, making the game much closer than it needed to be.

Alabama got to the free throw line 44 times Friday night as the Crimson Tide effectively drove into the lane and took advantage of a tight whistle to put the Red Wolves in foul trouble. Unfortunately, the Crimson Tide couldn’t convert at a satisfactory rate as they made just 28, leaving 16 points on the board and raising questions about the team’s acumen at the charity stripe.

“Yeah, I think we have a very skilled team, just to answer the free throw offense,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said after the game. “I’m not too worried, but our guys have to close. To be honest with you, you look at the guys they missed, I mean Labaron is five out of nine, he should be seven or eight out of nine. Mark Sears has been consistent throughout his career he’s been a great free throw shooter, he goes 11 of 16, I mean you expect him to go, shoot, 14, 15, 16 of 16. So it’s not like these guys are who I expect to miss them, those would be the main two culprits in my opinion.

“Other guys go — Jarin has to do better, he went again oh for one, small sample size, but Derrion one for two, you can’t have a lot of guys go through and go one for two, two for four , Cliff. Monday night four for four and then two for four tonight. Apart from Wrightsell, nobody needs to be a bit better, we just need to come in a bit more focused.”

It was the second straight game the Crimson Tide actually got to the free throw line as Alabama hit 37 free throws in the season opener against UNC-Asheville. Oats’ team converted 26 for a 70 percent rate on Monday, leaving a lot to be desired for a team loaded with offensive talent. Looking even further back at Alabama’s exhibition win over the Memphis Tigers, it’s easy to see that the Crimson Tide converted 30-of-48 for 63 percent, marking the charity stripe as a quick place Alabama can improve on the young season .