Tuskegee, Ala. — In a hard-fought conference battle that featured multiple momentum swings and a dramatic finish, the Albany State men's basketball team came up just short in an 87–81 loss to Tuskegee University on Monday night.

From the opening tip, the two programs went toe-to-toe in the paint, trading baskets and battling for second-chance opportunities. Tuskegee was able to seize early control, building an 18–8 advantage, but Albany State refused to fold. The Golden Rams responded with an 8–0 run, sparked by defensive stops and timely scoring, to chip away at the deficit. A deep three-pointer from Kendale Johnson off a pass from Shakur Poteat brought ASU within one and ignited the Rams' bench. Despite the surge, Tuskegee closed the half on a strong note, sending Albany State into the break trailing 37–25.

The Golden Rams came out of halftime with renewed energy, turning up the offensive pressure and attacking the basket. After trailing by as many as 16 points in the second half, Albany State found its rhythm and mounted a steady comeback. With just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the Rams cut the Tuskegee lead to 61–60, forcing the Golden Tigers to regroup.

Tuskegee answered with a quick response to push the lead back to four, but Albany State stayed within striking distance. Jeremiah Edwards caught fire during the stretch, knocking down key baskets to pull the Rams within one at 64–63 and forcing a media timeout as the tension inside the arena continued to build.

The closing minutes delivered exactly what the rivalry promised. With 3:17 left in regulation, Cameron Evans calmly stepped to the line and converted a pair of free throws to tie the game at 74–74. Both teams traded blows down the stretch, but Tuskegee made just enough plays late to secure the 87–81 win, handing Albany State a narrow road loss.

Shakur Poteat led the Golden Rams with 19 points and nine assists, while Kendale Johnson added 18 points on an efficient 6-of-10 shooting night, including four three-pointers. Jeremiah Edwards finished with 14 points and six rebounds, and Khimani Hopkinson chipped in 14 points off the bench. Albany State shot 47.2 percent from the field and went a strong 23-of-27 from the free-throw line, keeping the Rams in the game until the final moments.

Up Next: Albany State remains on the road as the Golden Rams travel to Fort Valley, Ga., for a rivalry matchup against Fort Valley State on Sunday, January 25. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
 
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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.