Albany, Ga. — For 20 minutes on Saturday night, the Golden Rams went punch for punch. For the final stretch, they kept fighting. But when the clock hit zero, Albany State was left just short.
Albany State dropped a 73–66 decision to Central State in SIAC action, falling to 7–7 overall and 6–4 in conference play. The game was locked in at 32–32 at halftime, setting the stage for a tightly contested second half that ultimately tilted in the Marauders' favor.
The Golden Rams came out sharp early, moving the ball with purpose and knocking down shots at a high clip. Albany State shot over 52 percent in the first half, fueled by strong perimeter play and timely baskets that kept Central State from gaining any separation.
Cameron Evans set the tone, finding space on the wing and attacking the rim, while
Jeremiah Edwards provided a steady scoring presence inside and out.
After the break, the game slowed and turned into a grind. Central State began to string together defensive stops and made its move midway through the second half. Albany State continued to battle, but cold stretches from the floor and second-chance opportunities for the Marauders proved costly.
Cameron Evans delivered a standout performance, leading all scorers with 23 points, including five three-pointers, while adding seven rebounds and three assists in 38 minutes of action.
Jeremiah Edwards followed with 13 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting night, and
Christian Gary contributed eight points and six rebounds, doing much of his damage at the free-throw line.
The Golden Rams stayed within striking distance down the stretch and were nearly perfect at the line in the second half, shooting 9-for-10, but were unable to generate enough offense to close the gap. Central State controlled the tempo late and held Albany State without a field goal during key possessions, preventing any late comeback push.
Despite the loss, the Golden Rams showed resilience, winning the rebounding battle in spurts and getting solid contributions off the bench. Still, the margins were thin, and Central State capitalized when it mattered most.
Albany State now turns the page and heads back on the road, traveling to Fairfield, Alabama, to face Miles College on Tuesday, January 13. Tipoff will follow the women's game as the Golden Rams look to regroup and get back on track in conference play.
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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.
