Albany State sweeps Fort Valley State in Albany

ALBANY — On one of the coldest nights of the year, the Jones Brothers HPER Gymnasium was anything but quiet.

With a basketball homecoming crowd filling the stands, Albany State University swept archrival Fort Valley State University on Saturday night, with the Golden Rams women holding on for a 67-61 win before the men closed the evening with a dramatic 80-78 victory decided at the free-throw line.

In the women’s game, Fort Valley State struck first, but the early momentum was short-lived. Albany State took the lead for good when Na’Haviya Paxton jumped a passing lane and finished a steal with a layup with three minutes left in the first quarter, putting the Golden Rams ahead 12-10.

From there, Albany State began to pull away. A layup by Paris Triplett early in the second quarter pushed the Golden Rams’ lead to 15, and Albany State appeared firmly in control for much of the night.

The Lady Wildcats, however, weren’t done.

Taliah Grier’s jumper early in the fourth quarter gave Albany State a 55-42 advantage, but Fort Valley answered with a 9-0 run to close within four. Paxton stopped the drought with a layup, yet the Wildcats continued to chip away, cutting the margin to 63-61 with just 32 seconds remaining.

Albany State sealed it at the line. Free throws from Tiffani Goodman and Jada Morgan in the closing moments preserved the win.

Morgan and Sariah Johnson scored 11 points apiece to lead the Golden Rams, while Quantrese Washington added 10. Triplett anchored the effort on the glass, grabbing 10 rebounds.

If the opener was about control and composure, the nightcap was pure rivalry chaos.

The men’s game featured 16 ties and 19 lead changes, with neither team able to create much separation. Fort Valley State held a six-point lead midway through the second half at 56-50 before Albany State’s Cameron Evans took over.

The former Sumter County standout hit a jumper off a pass from Malique Johnson, then buried back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the deficit to one. Evans followed with a layup to give Albany State a 61-60 lead, igniting the crowd.

That lead didn’t last long.

The rivals traded blows down the stretch, and Fort Valley regained the advantage late. Trailing 78-77 with 21 seconds left, Evans calmly stepped to the line and knocked down two free throws to put Albany State back in front, 79-78. Sterling Moody added the final free throw moments later to seal the win.

While Evans’ free throws decided the finish, the line told the larger story. Albany State hit 12 of 15 free throws in the second half, an 80-percent clip. Fort Valley State managed just 4 of 11.

Shakur Poteat and Kendale Johnson, who knocked down five 3-pointers, led Albany State with 17 points each. Evans and Christian Gary added 12 apiece.

The sweep lifted Albany State to 8-13 overall and 7-10 in the SIAC.

The Golden Rams will look to carry that momentum on the road Thursday when they travel to face Savannah State University in another conference matchup.