Albany, Ga. — In a tightly contested, wire-to-wire battle that wasn't decided until the final moments, the Albany State men's basketball team came up just short Saturday night, falling 69–66 to Spring Hill College in a thrilling SIAC showdown.
 
Spring Hill struck first, jumping out to a quick 5–2 lead, but the Golden Rams quickly settled in. Kendale Johnson answered with a smooth mid-range jumper to even the score, setting the tone for what became a back-and-forth battle throughout the opening half. The two teams traded baskets and momentum, with neither side able to establish a significant lead.
 
As the half wound down, Albany State capitalized in transition. Shakur Poteat finished a fast break layup in the closing moments to give the Golden Rams a 32–27 advantage heading into the locker room, rewarding their defensive effort and rebounding presence.
 
Spring Hill regrouped coming out of halftime and turned the tide in the second half. The Badgers ramped up the pressure, finding offensive rhythm and outscoring Albany State 42–34 over the final 20 minutes. Despite multiple pushes by the Golden Rams, Spring Hill consistently responded with timely baskets to maintain a narrow edge.
 
Albany State had opportunities late, but key shots failed to fall in the closing moments as the Badgers held on to secure the three-point win.
 
Poteat led the Golden Rams with 21 points, adding six assists and steady leadership throughout the contest. Cameron Evans followed with an efficient 20-point performance, knocking down four three-pointers. Jeremiah Edwards contributed 16 points and five rebounds, while Christian Gary controlled the glass with 12 rebounds to anchor Albany State inside.
 
The Golden Rams won the rebounding battle 41–26 and forced key defensive stops, but struggled to find consistency from long range, shooting 20.6 percent from beyond the arc.
 
Despite the loss, Albany State showed grit and composure in a tightly contested matchup that featured nine ties and nine lead changes, underscoring just how evenly matched the two teams were on the night.
 
Up Next
The Golden Rams return to the road for an MLK Day matchup at Tuskegee University, as Albany State looks to regroup and bounce back against the Golden Tigers in Tuskegee, Alabama.
 
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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.