ASU Golden Rams split decisions in SIAC-CIAA tournament in Atlanta

Published 4:37 pm Wednesday, December 28, 2016

From STAFF REPORTS

ATLANTA – The Albany State University (ASU) Golden Rams slid to 5-6 overall before taking a break for the Christmas holiday after splitting decisions in a pair of tough match-ups at the L.S. Epps Memorial Scholarship Tournament held at Clark Atlanta University on Dec. 17-18. The Golden Rams are currently undefeated in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) after one contest.
ASU’s Michael Green scored a game-high 23 points and added six rebounds to lead the Albany State men’s basketball team to an 83-74 win over Livingstone College on the opening day of the tournament.
At the start of the game, Albany State found itself trailing early by double figures. Livingstone used the opening minutes to generate an 18-7 lead at the 14:25 mark. However, over the next six minutes, the Golden Rams used a 16-0 run to take a 23-18 advantage with 8:08 left to play in the first half.
ASU continued to build on its lead in the latter part of the stanza. Green nailed one of his four three-pointers to put Albany State ahead 30-20 with 6:06 remaining. Another jumper by Green before the buzzer gave the Golden Rams a 41-32 edge at halftime.
In the second half, Albany State continued to dominate the Blue Bears. A basket by Khaliq Hughes provided ASU with a 17-point, 51-34, advantage with 17:09 left in regulation play. The Golden Rams held their double-digit lead until the final seconds of the game.
Hughes finished the game with 18 points and four rebounds while Devontay Ward added 15 points. The Golden Rams shot 29-of-64 (45.3 percent) from the field, six-of-20 (30 percent) from three-point range and 19-of-25 (76 percent) from the free throw line.
Ray Rogers led Livingstone with 16 points, and David Duncan recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Ramel Belfield had another 10 points.
The Blue Bears shot 22-of-60 (36.7 percent) from the field, three-of-11 (27.3 percent) from the free throw line, and 27-of-38 (71.1 percent) from the free throw line.
The following afternoon, the Golden rams returned to the hardwood to take on Shaw University (SU). At the conclusion of a fierce match-up, the ASU squad suffered a 75-58 defeat at the hands of their opponents.
After JaDon Davis put Albany State ahead 19-18 with a three-pointer at the 10:44 mark of the first half, the team became a victim of a huge Shaw run. The Bears outscored ASU 24-5 to take a commanding 43-23 lead with 4:58 left in the stanza. The Golden Rams trailed 51-30 at halftime.
In the opening minutes of the second half, SU built its largest lead at 57-30 with 18:55 left. ASU, however, began to generate a spurt to get back into contention.
A three-point play by Hughes cut the Golden Rams’ deficit to nine points, 67-58, with 4:06 remaining in regulation play. That would be the last score ASU would see. Shaw ended the game on an 18-0 run to seal its victory.
Ward led Albany State with 14 points and four rebounds, while Hughes tallied 13 points and five assists. Brandon Hudson added another 11 points.
The Golden Rams shot 21-of-63 (33.3 percent) from the field, five-of-20 (25 percent) from three-point range and 11-of-14 (78.6 percent) from the free throw line.
Shaw was led by DeAngelo Stephens-Bell, who scored a game-high 20 points. DaVaughn Kelsie netted 16 points, including four three-pointers, Khaliq Williams recorded 14 points and David Madol added 11 points.
The Bears were 27-of-56 (48.2 percent) from the field, 11-of-25 (44 percent) from three-point range, and 10-of-16 (62.5 percent) from the free throw line.
The Albany State team will be idle until Dec. 29 when it travels to Frankfort, Ky. to face Kentucky State University in SIAC conference play. The Golden Rams will return to their home court on Jen. 5, hosting Lane College at 7:30 p.m.