Albany, GA – The Albany State Golden Rams (6-6) ended the year on a high note with a thrilling 72-69 victory over the Shorter University Hawks (2-7) in non-conference action at The Arena on West Campus.

In a tightly contested matchup, the Golden Rams maintained a slim lead for most of the game, relying on clutch shooting and a strong defensive effort down the stretch. Albany State led 32-28 at halftime, but Shorter surged in the second half to tie the game late.

Shakur Poteat led Albany State with a game-high 23 points, including two crucial three-pointers and a perfect 7-of-9 performance from the free-throw line. His leadership and poise were instrumental in the final minutes. Blaise Wallace recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the team's effort on the boards and adding key defensive stops. Kendale Johnson chipped in 10 points, including three triples, to provide much-needed perimeter scoring.

Shorter University's Donovan Shangase matched Poteat's scoring with 15 points of his own, while Colton Wilbanks added 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench in an impressive performance for the Hawks.

The Golden Rams out-rebounded Shorter 38-32, including 16 offensive boards that led to 13 second-chance points. Albany State also capitalized on turnovers, scoring 18 points off Shorter's 19 miscues.

Shorter kept the game close by shooting an efficient 49% from the field and knocking down 10-of-23 three-point attempts. The Hawks tied the game at 69-69 with under 20 seconds remaining, but Poteat's dagger three-pointer with just over one second left clinched the win.

Up Next

The Golden Rams resume conference action on Thursday, January 2, hosting Lane College at The Arena on West Campus in Albany, GA. The men's game will tip off immediately after the women's game. Fans are encouraged to come out and support both teams as they begin 2025 in SIAC play.
For those unable to attend, you can catch all the action live at Team1Sports - Golden Rams.

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ABOUT ALBANY STATE ATHLETICS
Albany State University is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II-level intercollegiate athletic program. The university currently fields teams in 11 sports: women's volleyball, women's tennis, women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, softball, men's and women's track and field, women's soccer, baseball, and football with all teams compete in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), except women's soccer, which participates in the Peach Belt Conference.