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Albany State University Athletics

Devontay Ward
Devontay Ward scored with one second left to lift ASU to a 68-67 win over Claflin.
68
Winner Albany State ALBNMB 3-14, 2-6,SIAC
67
Claflin University CLAFMBB 7-10, 3-6 SIAC
Winner
Albany State ALBNMB
3-14, 2-6,SIAC
68
Final
67
Claflin University CLAFMBB
7-10, 3-6 SIAC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Albany State ALBNMB 28 31 9 68
Claflin University CLAFMBB 31 28 8 67

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Ward’s late basket lifts Golden Rams to OT victory over Claflin

ORANGEBURG, S.C.- For 44 minutes and 59 seconds, Albany State's Devontay Ward wanted to forget his first trip to Claflin University. He had good reason. The sophomore center was 0-7 from the field with only two points, had already missed two free throws and was two fouls away from being disqualified from the game.
 
However, in the game's final second, Ward went from being ineffective to game's MVP. It was his put back basket with one second left that lifted the Golden Rams to a pulsating 68-67 overtime win over the Claflin Panthers. With the win, ASU improves to 3-14 overall and 2-6 in the SIAC. The triumph also marks the first win the men's basketball program has recorded at Claflin since the Panthers joined the SIAC in 2006.
 
Claflin falls to 7-10, 3-6.
 
To gain its historic win, Albany State had to make a run to get back into contention. The Golden Rams trailed for most of the game after opening with an early 4-2 lead. However, ASU managed to keep the game close in the first half. When halftime arrived, Claflin only held a 31-28 advantage.
 
In the second half, the Panthers opened with a key 16-5 run to build a 47-33 lead with 13:33 remaining in regulation. CU continued to hold a double digit lead, 53-42 at the 8:28 mark, before the Golden Rams ignited a spurt of their own. Over the next six minutes, ASU used a 16-0 run to build a 58-53 with two minutes left to play.
 
Claflin cut its deficit to 58-57 with 24 seconds left. Michael Green made one of two free throws to put the Golden Rams ahead 59-57. The Panthers' Triston Thompson scored to tie the game at 59 with six seconds left to play in regulation. Albany State was able to get a shot off, but Keldreion Miller's three-point attempt rimmed out at the buzzer.
 
The overtime produced more suspense and drama. The two teams exchanged the lead a few times in the highly-contested session. A three-pointer by Jordan Floyd put ASU ahead 66-65 with 1:37 left, but Ryan McNeill-Moses put the Panthers back in front 67-66 at the 1:21 mark with a pair of free throws.
 
After the two teams exchanged turnovers, Albany State gained possession and decided to hold for one shot. Floyd's shot was off the mark, but Ward rebounded the miss and scored to give the Golden Rams a 68-67 edge with one second left. Claflin did get off a final attempt, but it was off the mark.
 
Miller, Lance Dixon, Khaliq Hughes and Earl Farnum all scored 10 points to lead Albany State. Green added eight points and five rebounds. Farnum also had six rebounds and four steals.
 
The Golden Rams shot 21-of-58 (36.2%) from the field, 4-of-16 (25%) from three-point range and 22-of-33 (66.7%) from the free throw line. The team forced Claflin into 20 turnovers.
 
Patrell Rogers led Claflin with a game-high 14 points. McNeil-Moses added 12 points and six rebounds.
 
Albany State returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 23 when it travels to Columbia, S.C. to face Benedict College (12-6, 7-2). Currently, Benedict leads the SIAC East Division. Game time is slated for 3 p.m.
 
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