Fairfield, Ala. — In a game that had everything—momentum swings, clutch plays, and edge-of-your-seat drama—the Albany State men's basketball team came up just short Tuesday night, falling 86–80 in overtime to Miles College in a hard-fought SIAC showdown.

Albany State set the tone early, opening the game on a quick 7–2 run. After a brief slow start that saw the Golden Rams trail 6–2 following the opening tip, ASU quickly settled in and took control of the tempo. Khimani Hopkinson ignited the comeback with a strong layup to pull the Rams within two, then followed it up with a smooth jumper to tie the game.

As the first half wore on, Albany State continued to build momentum. A big three-pointer from Kendale Johnson—set up by Cameron Evans—gave the Golden Rams a one-point edge midway through the half. From there, ASU leaned into its energy and execution, closing the half strong and heading into the locker room with a 37–32 lead.

The Golden Rams carried that momentum into the second half, opening with a 7–1 run to extend their advantage. Miles, however, refused to fade. The Bears slowly chipped away at the deficit and eventually tied the game, swinging the momentum back in their favor.

With just under eight minutes remaining in regulation, Albany State found itself trailing 62–59. Shakur Poteat answered the call with a tough three-point play to pull the Rams within one, then knocked down a clutch three-pointer to briefly reclaim the lead. Miles responded with a triple of its own and sent Poteat to the free-throw line, where he calmly knocked down shots to keep the game locked in a tight battle.

The final five minutes of regulation turned into a back-and-forth showcase of grit and composure. Miles held a three-point advantage late, but Jeremiah Edwards delivered in a big moment, converting a three-point play to tie the game. Moments later, Poteat forced a turnover and came away with a steal, giving Albany State a two-point edge.

Miles answered once again, heading to the free-throw line to tie the game at 73–73 with eight seconds remaining. Albany State had one final look at the buzzer, but a missed jumper sent the contest into overtime.

In the extra period, the Bears struck first and held a slim lead. With two minutes left in overtime, Albany State trailed 79–75 before Edwards was fouled and stepped to the line, cutting the deficit to two. Despite the Rams' continued fight, Miles made the necessary plays down the stretch to secure the 86–80 overtime victory.

Poteat led Albany State with 21 points, adding timely shots and key defensive plays throughout the night. Kendale Johnson finished with 15 points, while Cameron Evans contributed 14. Edwards chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds, and Hopkinson provided a strong spark off the bench with 12 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting.

The Golden Rams shot 95 percent from the free-throw line and battled through 14 lead changes and 10 ties, but ultimately came up just short in a thrilling road contest.
 
Up Next
Albany State returns home to West Campus on Saturday, January 17, where the Golden Rams will host Spring Hill immediately following the women's game inside the Arena.

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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.