TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — No. 2 Alabama narrowly escape Arkansas State at home on Friday night, winning by a final score of 88-79 in an ugly game that was much closer than the score indicated, full of plenty of fouls and even more missed shots. The win moves Alabama to 2-0 on the season. The game was a homecoming of sorts for Arkansas State head coach Bryan Hodgson, who coached at Alabama under Nate Oats from 2019-2023. HOW IT HAPPENEDThe Crimson Tide kept the same starters as last game, going with Mark Sears, Labaron Philon, Derrion Reid, Jarin Stevenson and Cliff Omoruyi as its first unit. That bro…