ASU men fall short against Lane College

ALBANY —The Albany State Rams have played five home games this season. All five have been decided by seven points or less and two have come down to the final shot.

In the previous four, the Rams were able to overcome their mistakes and squeak out a win. But Monday night was not the case as they fell to Lane College 80-76 at the HPER Gym.

The Rams got off to a quick start in the first half, building a 25-12 lead with 12 minutes left. At one point they had built close to a 20-point lead before turnovers allowed the Dragons to get back into the game. Lane cut the lead to eight with 1:37 left and by the half were down just four points.

ASU head coach Michael Moore said his team got careless with the ball toward the end of the first period.

“When they stopped us from getting easy baskets in transition, when it was time for us to execute in the half-court, our guards didn’t do a good job of protecting the basketball,” he said.

ASU started the second half by turning the ball over again, which allowed Lane to score two quick baskets and tie the game at 39 with just 45 seconds into the second half. Larry Bullock drilled a 3-pointer and Chris Wheeler knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Rams a 51-46 lead with 15:15 to play.

ASU could not hold on despite getting in the bonus around the 13-minute mark.

After an intentional foul was called on Demetri Wheeler, Lane’s Terrance Bridgeman hit a free throw to tie the game at 72 with 3:02 left. He’d later get open for a dunk that put the Dragons up 76-74 with 1:14 left to play. After Lane’s Donald Stewart hit a free throw to put the Dragons up 77-74, ASU had one last chance to tie the game with 35 seconds left to play.

But Davetom Odom’s 3-point attempt went in and out and Lane would hit one more free throw to ice the game.

Bullock led the team in scoring with 18 points, followed by Odom with 11 and Demetri Wheeler with 10.

The Rams are now 5-4 on the season and 4-1 at home. They will face Stillman College Thursday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. at 7:30 p.m.