ATLANTA, Ga.-  The Albany State University men's basketball team secured a 80-72  victory over the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College this afternoon in Forbes Arena.
 
The Golden Rams opened the contest getting on the board first with adding one from the free throw line to take a 1-0 lead. Morehouse answered with a jumper by Robert Andrews at the 19:17 mark to take a 2-1 lead. ASU then regained the lead 3-2 on a basket by Mario Young. The Maroon Tigers then grew its lead 6-3 on a layup by Michael Olmert with 16:18 left in the first half. Albany State University then added points to bring the score 11-all at 13:20. The Maroon Tigers then took a 13-11 lead at the 12:50 mark. Randy McClure added two from the free throw line to tie to score for the second time 13-all. The Golden Rams when took a 15-13 advantage on a dunk by Juwan High with 105:59 on the game clock.
 
Morehouse added two from the free throw line to tie the game 15-all. Kamil Brown then knocked one down from the three-point line to give ASU an 18-15 advantage. Morehouse then collected a three- pointer to tie the game at 18. Albany State collected at layup with 8:30 left to tie the game at 20-all. Olmert then secured the lead for Morehouse will adding two from the free throw line. Napoleon Harris collected a basket for the Golden Rams to make the score 22-all. Both teams continued to battle with the Golden Rams taking a 24-22 lead with 6:40 left in the half. Mario Young then extended ASU's lead 26-22 with 6:15 left. Morehouse answered with back-to-back three pointers to take a 28-26 lead.
 
The Golden Rams answered with a basket to make the score 28-all. MHC answered with a basket to edge the Golden Rams 30-28. ASU collected two points from a basket by Joshua Jerome to give them a 31-30 lead. ASU grew its lead 33-30 with 3:59 left in the half and forced Morehouse College to call a timeout.  The Maroon Tigers then added a basket and one to tie the game 33-all. Morehouse then added another basket to take a 35-33 lead with 3:00 on the game clock.  Kamil Brown then attacked the basket for the Golden Rams to bring the score 35-all. A dunk by Mario Young edged the Golden Rams 37-35 over host Morehouse College.  The Golden Rams then took at 40-37 lead with 00:47 second left. Young then secured another basket to edge the Maroon Tigers 42-39 at the half.
 
Morehouse College came out with taking a 44-42 advantage with 18:59 left in the contest. Titus Burns opened the scoring for the Golden Rams with securing a three-pointer to cut MHC's lead 47-45. Randy McClure then collected a basket for ASU to bring them within two with 15:50 on the game clock. Titus Burns when collected a layup for Albany State to tie the game 49-all. The Maroon and White then added one from the free throw line to take a 50-49 lead. McClure when added a basket and one to give ASU a 52-50 edge with 13:42 left in the game. Morehouse then added back-to-back baskets to take a 54-52 advantage. Albany State's Kamil Brown answered with a three-pointer to take a 55-54 lead over the Maroon and White.

The Golden Rams when added back-to-back baskets to grow its lead 59-54 to force Morehouse to call its second timeout.  ASU's Joshua Jerome when secured a three-pointer for the Golden Rams to bring the score 62-56 with 8:21 left. At the media timeout the Golden Rams held a 64-59 advantage over Morehouse College with 7:15 left in the contest. Randy McClure when added a basket and one to grow the Golden Rams lead 70-64 with 5:03 left in the contest. At the three minute mark the Golden Rams secured a 72-66 edge over the Maroon and White. A dunk by Mario Young would bring the score 76-68 with 2:09 left. Morehouse College answered with collecting a three-pointer to cut ASU's lead to six making the score 77-71 with 1:37 left on the game clock. The Golden Rams rounded out its scoring from the free throw line to collect the 80-72 victory.
 
Leading the way for Albany State was Randy McClure who finished the contest with a double-double performance with 23 points and 13 rebounds. Mario Young finished the game strong with adding 18 points. Closing out the double digit scoring for ASU was Kamil Brown and Joshua Jerome who added 12 and 11 points respectively.
 
Kairo Whitefield led the way for Morehouse with 17 points and two rebounds.

Next the Golden Rams will travel to Augusta, Georgia for a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference matchup against the Lions of Paine College on Saturday, January 18, 2020. Tipoff is slated for 3:00 p.m.