Familar foes highlight Albany State men’s basketball schedule

ALBANY — Last season, the Albany State men’s basketball program finished with a disappointing 5-22 record. However, the Rams will look for vast improvements during their 28-game schedule in 2016-2017.

ASU will open its season against Gulf South Conference member West Florida (Nov. 11) during the SIAC-Gulf South Challenge, which will be held at Fort Valley State University. The following day, the Rams will play Valdosta State.

The games against West Florida and VSU are the first two of a 10-game non-conference slate. Albany State will also play Peach Belt Conference members Georgia Southwestern (Nov. 19) and Georgia College (Nov. 22 and Dec. 3), NAIA foes Point University (Nov. 26), Edward Waters College (Dec. 9) and Auburn-Montgomery (Dec. 12) and CIAA combatants Livingstone College (Dec.17) and Shaw University (Dec. 18). The games against Livingston and Shaw will be part of the SIAC-CIAA Classic at Clark Atlanta University.

On Dec. 1, Albany State will open its 18-game SIAC schedule against LeMoyne-Owen at home. Contests against SIAC foes Kentucky State (Dec. 29) and Central State (Dec. 30), will close the first part of the Rams’ schedule.

Albany State will continue its league play on Jan. 5 against Lane College, the team that eliminated them from the 2016 SIAC tournament. Contests against Benedict College, Miles College, Tuskegee University and archrival Fort Valley State University also highlight the SIAC schedule.

Albany State will begin postseason play in the 2017 SIAC Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament. The event will be held in Birmingham, Alabama at the Bill Harris Arena.