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ALBANY, GA – Trailing by as much as 19 points in the second half, the Georgia Southwestern State University men’s basketball team (GSW) made a furious comeback to cut their deficit to three. However, the Golden Rams of Albany State University (ASU) held on to defeat GSW 72-66, thus handing the Hurricanes their first loss of the season (5-1).

The game was played on Thursday, December 5, at the Albany State West Campus arena. In the first meeting between these two teams in the Storm Dome on Monday, November 18, the Hurricanes came out on top 75-66.

Three Hurricanes scored in double figures. Soloman Thomas and Jalen Cameron each scored 18 points and Jamari Dean scored 16, but it was not enough.

The Hurricanes struggled shooting from the field for most of the game. After a tremendous performance from beyond the arc in the 89-62 win over Fort Valley State on Monday, December 2, GSW went four for 18 from behind the three-point line against the Golden Rams (22.2 percent).

For the game, GSW shot 22 for 50 from the field (44 percent) and 18 for 26 from the foul line (69.2 percent).

ASU (4-6) also had three players in double-figure scoring. Napoleon Harris and Joshua Jerome each scored 19 points to lead the Golden Rams and Titus Burns scored 10. For the game, the Golden Rams made 25 of 49 shots from the field (51 percent), six of 20 shots from beyond the arc (30 percent) and 16 of 28 foul shots (57.1 percent).

The Hurricanes jumped out to a 10-5 lead to start the game, but the Golden Rams responded with eight unanswered points, capped off with a basket by Harris. This prompted a timeout by GSW head coach Aaron Coombs with 13:19 to go in the first half.

Out of the timeout, both teams traded baskets for the next four and a half minutes, with ASU leading 19-16. Over the next three minutes, ASU outscored the Hurricanes 5-2 until Thomas sank two free throws to bring GSW to within four at 24-20 with less than five minutes to go. However, the Golden Rams went on a 5-0 run to take a nine-point lead with 3:41 left to play in the half.

The Hurricanes broke their scoring drought when Keshawn Gibbs hit two free throws to cut the Golden Rams’ lead to 29-22. Both teams struggled to score in the last minute of the half, but the Hurricanes would trail at halftime 33-24.

Cameron led the Hurricanes with nine first-half points.

GSW struggled from the field in the first half. The Hurricanes shot eight for 23 from the field (34.8 percent) and were three for 11 from behind the three-point line (27.3 percent). Thomas, who hit eight three-pointers against Fort Valley State, was one for four from beyond the arc in the first half. He made two of seven three-point shots for the game.

On the other hand, the Golden Rams shot 14 of 28 from the field in the first half (50 percent) and Harris led ASU with 12 first-half points.

One thing that kept the Hurricanes in the game in the first half was foul shooting. GSW made five of six foul shots in the first half (83.3 percent).

ASU scored the first four points of the second half before Cameron sank two foul shots to cut the Golden Rams’ lead to 38-26.

However, ASU went on a 5-1 run to increase their lead to 43-27 with less than 18 minutes left in the game. Then ASU jumped out to its largest lead of the game when Jerome knocked down a three-pointer. At this point, the Hurricanes found themselves trailing 46-27.

Shortly thereafter, the Golden Rams stole GSW’s in-bounds pass and Kamil Brown dribbled coast to coast for a dunk, which electrified the ASU faithful.

As the second half continued, the Hurricanes continued to struggle scoring and with less than 13 minutes to go in the game, Jerome hit another three-pointer to give the Golden Rams a 51-33 lead.

Then with 11:19 to go, a technical foul was called against GSW’s Devon Higgs. Burns made the two technical foul shots. Since a personal foul was also called, the Golden Rams were able to make two more free throws to increase their lead back to 17 at 54-37.

However, the Hurricanes were able to score some fast-break baskets to get themselves back in the game. By the 9:13 mark, they trailed ASU 57-46. Then Thomas pushed the ball up the floor, scored a basket and was fouled. He made the free throw to convert the three-point play, bringing the Hurricanes to within eight at 57-49. However, the Golden Rams responded by going on another run, capped off by a two-handed slam by Harris.

Over the next few minutes, however, the Hurricanes would go on a run that would cut their deficit to six at 65-59. After the Golden Rams scored a basket to push their lead up to eight, timeout was called with 4:30 left. The Hurricanes had exactly four and a half minutes to execute a come-from-behind victory and stay undefeated.

Out of the timeout, Cameron was fouled while going up for a layup and made both free throws, cutting GSW’s deficit to six at 67-61. Then the Hurricanes forced a turnover and Thomas was fouled. He made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to 67-64 with a little over three minutes to play.

Both teams traded baskets on their next possessions before timeout was called with 2:22 left. At that point, ASU had a 69-64 lead.

Out of the timeout, Josh Press got a steal for the Hurricanes and Jamari Dean hit a short baseline jumper to bring GSW to within three at 69-66. The Hurricanes had been down by as much as 19 in the second half and were now within a three-pointer of tying the game.

On the Golden Rams’ next possession, the Hurricane defense was able to force ASU into a shot clock violation. However, the Golden Rams came up with a steal and Burns was fouled at the other end. Burns made one of two free throws to give ASU a 70-66 lead with 38.9 seconds left. The Hurricanes tried to get a quick basket on the inside, but Abdul Dial’s shot was blocked and the Golden Rams got the ball back. ASU’s Mario Young was fouled at the other end and he made both free throws to seal the 72-66 victory for the Golden Rams.

Up next for GSW is their first Peach Belt Conference game of the season. They will take a road trip to Augusta, GA to take on Augusta University on Thursday, December 19. Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.