ALBANY, Ga. – The Albany State University men's basketball team collected a jumper with 2:24 left and held the Panthers scoreless to force overtime, a layup by Napoleon Harris with 00:01 second left extended the game to a second extra session before Juwan High secured a free throw with four seconds to play in double overtime, giving the Golden Rams a 74-71 win over visiting Clark Atlanta University on Monday night inside Oliver Jones Court inside the Jones Brothers Health, Physical Education and Recreation Complex. The victory snaps the Golden Rams one game losing streak, and improve to 12-9 (9-3 SIAC). The loss dropped CAU to 7-12 on the year and 7-4 in league play.
Clark Atlanta overcame two-point deficits in the final minutes of regulation, and another in the final seconds of the first overtime to force the first two-overtime tilt at Oliver Jones Court this season. The Golden Rams then broke the 15th and final tie of the night, securing back-to-back free throws the last one by Juwan High to give Albany State the win. Six Golden Rams finished the contest scoring in double digits.
Leading by two at halftime (25-23), Clark Atlanta University fought to tie the game 39 all with 11:41 left in the second half. The host then tied the game 45 all on a layup by Mario Young with 7:57 left on the clock. The Panthers advanced its lead 53-46 at the 5:42 mark. A jumper by Mario Young forced the game into overtime. In the first extra session, Albany State never led but also prevented CAU from taking a lead no larger than four points. Down by four with 1:22 left in the first overtime to force the game into second overtime. The second overtime played out similarly, until Titus Burn's jumper and adding five from the free throw line, the last one by Juwan High with four seconds to go in the game.
Mario Young led the Golden Rams with 17 points and nine rebounds. Napoleon Harris finished the contest with 14 points, followed by Kamil Brown who added 11 points. Randy McClure, Joshua Jerome and Titus Burns all added 10 points each respectively to close out the double-digit scoring for Albany State.
The Panthers was led by Tyler Singleton who finished the contest with a game-high 25 points and five rebounds. Romine Thomas completed the contest with a double-double performance with 15 points and 16 rebounds.
Albany State returns to action on Saturday, February 1st as they host Savannah State University. Tip-off is set for 3:00 p.m.
