FORT VALLEY, Ga.- Freshman Randy McClure scored a career-high 15 points and grabbed five rebounds in Saturday's contest. However, the Albany State men's basketball team was unable to find the winner's circle. After a closely competitive game, ASU eventually lost 88-80 to in-state rival Valdosta State University in the SIAC-Gulf South Challenge at Fort Valley State Universty.
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The Golden Rams are now 0-2 overall, while VSU improves to 2-0.
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The two rivals provided the fans in attendance with some thrilling basketball. Valdosta State led for most of the first half, but its lead was only nine, 27-19 at the 9:24 mark. Albany State went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 29 with 4:18 left before halftime.
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For the rest of the half, the two teams exchanged the lead. McClure's three-point play gave the Golden Rams a 32-31 edge at the 3:38 mark, but two free throws by Sheldon Zablotny put the Blazers ahead on the next possession. VSU took a slim 42-41 advantage into halftime.
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The closely contested battle continued in the second half. Albany State built its largest lead of the game at the 15:55 mark. Devontay Ward made a jumper to give the team a 53-49 edge.
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The rest of the contest was filled with multiple ties and lead changes. With 8:06 left in the game, Ward put the Golden Rams ahead 68-67 with another jump shot. Carlos Beverly gave Valdosta State the lead for good, 69-68, with a jumper of his own with 7:52 remaining.
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The score by Beverly sparked an eventual 13-3 run that produced an 80-71 deficit for ASU with 4:34 left in the contest. A layup by Tylen Walker brought Albany State within four at 84-80 with 1:50 left, but that was as close as the team would get.
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Ward finished the game with 14 points and eight rebounds, and Lenyear added 11 points and four assists. Michael Green and Khaliq Hughes each scored nine points, and Jadon Davis tallied eight points. Green also had eight rebounds and four assists.
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The Golden Rams shot 32-of-64 (50%) from the field, 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three-point range and 12-of-18 (66.7%) from the free throw line.
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Saadiq Muhammad led Valdosta State with a game-high 20 points and eight rebounds. Zablotny had 19 points and five assists, and Jeremiah Hill recorded 16 points, six assists and five rebounds.
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The Blazers shot 34-of-66 (51.5%) from the field, 4-of-15 (26.7%) from three-point range and 16-of-26 (61.5%) from the free throw line.
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Albany State returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 19 when they host Georgia Southwestern State University at ASU HPER Gymnasium. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.
