Albany, GA- Larry Bullock and Earl Farnum each scored 14 points to lead the Albany State Golden Rams to 71-66 win over the Kentucky State Thorobreds in their SIAC opener. With the victory, ASU improves to 5-3, 1-0. KSU falls to 1-6, 1-0.
Albany State got off to a slow start and trailed early. Kentucky State held a 20-12 lead at the 10:33 mark of the first half. Jeremy Whitmore made a three-pointer to tie the game at 24 with 6:17 left in the half. The Golden Rams trailed 32-30 at intermission.
Trailing 36-30 early in the second half, the Golden Rams used a 15-0 run, which was fueled by three-pointers by Bullock and Douglas Storey, to take a 45-36 lead with 14:55 left in the game. At the 10:31 mark, Dominique Pollard made a trey to put ASU ahead 55-45.
Demetri Wheeler's jumper with 4:18 remaining provided Albany State with its biggest lead, 65-54, of the game. ASU missed some key free throws down the stretch, and KSU took advantage cut its deficit to 69-65 with 34 seconds left in the game. However, the Golden Rams made a couple of free throws in the final seconds to put the game away.
Wheeler recorded a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Bullock also had six rebounds and four assists. Storey added eight points.
The Golden Rams shot 28 of 63 (44.4%) from the field, eight of 19 (42.1%) from three-point range, and seven of 17 (41.2%) from the free throw line.
Albany State returns to action on Monday, January 5th when it host the Lane College Dragons in another SIAC contest. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the ASU HPER Gymnasium.
