COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Albany State University men's basketball team used a late rally but came up short in its 90-88 loss to Benedict College on Sunday afternoon in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.

With the win the Tigers improve to 7-1 on the season, while Albany State falls to 2-6.

Travis Baker led the Golden Rams with 18 points. Jordan Simpson finish the contest with a double-double performance with 16 points and 11 rebounds, both season highs. Malik Parker contributed 16 points and four rebounds. Rodney Hunter and Yves Fleuranvil closed out the double-digit scoring for Albany State with adding 12 and 10 points each respectively.

Albany State University opened the contest with a 5-0 lead on a three-pointer by Rodney Hunter. Both teams would battle for the lead with the Tigers of Benedict College building a 10-point lead in the first half, 34-24, but the Golden Rams rallied and took as much as a five-point lead, 45-40. The Tigers held a 51-49 lead going into the locker room at the half.

Benedict opened the second half with a 12-0 run by pressuring the ball and forcing turnovers to take a 63-53 lead with 15:32 remaining in the contest.

Albany State shot 45.7 percent (32-of-70) with Benedict finished with 53.4 percent (39-of-73). The Golden Rams scored 23 points off of turnovers. Albany State scored 34 of their 88 points in the paint. ASU also collected 15 second chance points.

Albany State will return to action Thursday, March 4 as they host the Golden Bears of Miles College. Tip-off is slated for 2:30 p.m.