TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama basketball’s Friday-night opponent came as advertised. Heading into its game against the Crimson Tide, Stephen F. Austin led the nation averaging 12.8 steals and forcing 26 turnovers per game.

The Lumberjacks lived up to their pesky reputation, forcing a turnover on Alabama’s opening possession of the game before continuing to poke and prod at the Crimson Tide over the following 40 minutes of play. Fortunately for Alabama, it took on the same scrappy style of play.

Friday night won’t go down as one of the prettiest games in the Nate Oats era, but Alabama was able to survive a sloppy performance, using a big second-half run to net a 78-68 victory. The win moves the Crimson Tide to 4-4 and marks the first time Alabama has won back-to-back games this season.

SFA (7-2) might have been able to force 20 turnovers on the night, but an inspired Alabama defense proved to be just as persistent. The Crimson Tide tallied 19 takeaways and eight blocks and held the Lumberjacks to just 39 percent from the floor.

"That was probably our top priority was to match their energy," Alabama guard John Petty Jr. said. "We know that they thrive in transition points, so also we wanted to try to limit our turnovers even though we had a couple. I think we did a pretty decent job even on (Kevon) Harris, their best player, and on all of them, just shrinking the floor, making them see six people."

Added SFA head coach Kyle Keller: "Really, this is the best defense we've probably faced this year. I thought that their help was — we saw bodies all night."

Trailing SFA by a point early in the second half, Alabama used a 13-2 run to spur itself to victory. Petty. started the spurt with back-to-back threes before the Crimson Tide’s defense stiffened up, forcing three turnovers in the following three minutes. A 3 from Alex Reese gave Alabama a commanding 45-35 lead with 15:52 remaining as the Crimson Tide put the game away from there.

Petty and Reese both had four 3s apiece. Reese, who entered the game battling a foot injury, had 15 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Following a strong showing in Alabama’s trip to the Bahamas last week, Petty recorded his fifth straight double-digit performance with 14 points.

"I'm feeling good," Petty said. "I think it's just from the extra work I put in after shootarounds after practice, before games. I think that's just what's building my confidence, and these guys (teammates) telling me, 'You're a shooter. It don't matter how many times you miss, just keep shooting."

The two were among five Crimson Tide players in double figures on the night. Jaden Shackelford led the Crimson TIde with 17 points, while Kira Lewis Jr. had 15 and Javian Davis had 11.

Stephen F. Austin headed into the game averaging 24.8 fouls per game, the fourth-highest average in the nation. The Lumberjacks continued that hard-nosed approach against Alabama, hacking their way to 27 fouls. The Crimson Tide proved capable enough from the charity stripe, connecting on 71 percent (25 of 35) of its free-throw attempts.

SFA was the story of college basketball last week when it upset then-ranked No. 1 Duke, 85-83, in overtime. The victory snapped Duke’s 150-game non-conference home winning streak and gave the Blue Devils their first-ever loss to a non-major team when ranked No. 1. Alabama made sure there were no such heroics inside Coleman Coliseum.

Alabama elected to sit James "Beetle" Bolden as the point guard continues to deal with hand and wrist injuries. Following the game, Oats provided an update on the graduate transfer point guard.

"We got him to a point where he could play in the Bahamas, but the three games in three days really kind of set him back when we got back," Oats said. "We tried to rest him all week to see if we could get him ready to play. We went to see the hand specialist up in Birmingham at (Andrews Sports Medicine). They just didn't feel for his long-term health it would be wise to play him tonight... From what they tell us, he should be able to play at Penn State (on Dec. 14) if he progresses like they're hoping to. That's the plan with him."

Friday night's victory served as Oats' 100th career win. Following the game, the head coach shrugged off the achievement, stating he hopes he has plenty more with the Crimson Tide in the future.

"I forgot all about that until some students were yelling at me after the game," Oats said. "Look, we're 4-4 here. I'd rather be 7-1, 8-0. We should have gotten that 100th one about four games ago. So, it is what it is. When I get 100 at Alabama, it'll probably be a bigger milestone."

Alabama will travel to University Park, Pa., to take on Penn State (7-1) on Dec. 14. The Crimson Tide and the Nittany Lions played last year in Tuscaloosa with Penn State coming away with a 73-64 victory.

Penn State is led by preseason All-Big Ten forward Lamar Stevens. The 6-foot-8, 225-pound senior is averaging 17.5 points and 7.9 rebounds this season. The Nittany Lions also feature another talented senior forward in Mike Watkins, who is averaging a double-double with 11.3 points and 10.0 rebounds.

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