Epic Comeback Attempt Falls Short for Central State Marauders in 77-76 Loss to Albany State

The Central State Marauders nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback but came up just short in a thrilling 77-76 loss to Albany State at the Beacom/Lewis Gym on Monday night. After a strong second-half push, Central State's efforts fell short, despite closing the gap from a 19-point deficit to just one point in the final moments.

The game was dominated early by Albany State, who shot a blistering 58.1% in the first half to take a commanding 48-32 lead into halftime. Shakur Poteat led the charge for the Golden Rams, contributing 20 points, including a 3-of-6 performance from beyond the arc. Kendale Johnson (13 points) and Blaise Wallace (12 points) also provided key scoring for Albany State, who appeared to have control of the game early.

Central State, however, turned up the heat in the second half. After struggling with shooting in the first half (just 37.5% from the field), the Marauders found their rhythm, particularly behind Ramar Pryor. Pryor, who had 23 points on the night, led the way as Central State mounted a furious comeback. The Marauders shot 62.1% in the second half and outscored Albany State 44-29.

Despite the improved play, Central State was unable to completely close the gap. Pryor's offensive explosion, which included 9-of-14 shooting and 2-of-4 from three-point range, was crucial in the comeback, as were the efforts of Brandon Scott (10 points) and Steven Key II (8 points). The Marauders also got solid contributions from Mark Wise (7 points) and Javantae Randle (7 points), who helped Central State trim Albany State's lead to just one point with less than 20 seconds remaining.

However, despite a last-ditch effort, Central State could not get over the hump. A glaring issue and the difference in the game may be from the free-throw stripe, the Marauders struggled at the free-throw line, finishing just 15-of-27 (55.6%), while Albany State took advantage of their opportunities, converting 18-of-24 free throws (75%). The Marauders shot 3 more free-throws but made 3 less.  

In the final moments with just 4 seconds on the clock, Central State had possession of the ball with a chance to win, but failed to get a shot off, allowing Albany State to hang on for the narrow victory.

The Marauders' strong second-half performance was highlighted by their resilience and improved shooting, but they were ultimately undone by a slow start and missed opportunities.

Game Notes:

• Central State was outrebounded 36-30, with Albany State holding a 12-8 edge in offensive rebounds.
• Points off turnovers were a significant factor in the game, with Albany State outscoring Central State 31-19 in that category.
• Points in the paint were also a key factor, with both teams finding success inside. Albany State finished with 34 points in the paint, while Central State had 40.

Key Performances:

• Albany State: Shakur Poteat led all scorers for ASU with 20 points, including 7-of-8 free-throw shooting. Kendale Johnson added 13 points, and Blaise Wallace contributed 12 points and 5 rebounds.
• Central State: Ramar Pryor had a game-high 23 points, including 9-of-14 shooting, and Brandon Scott chipped in 10 points in the losing effort.

The loss drops Central State to 3-5 on the season and 2-2 in SIAC play, while Albany State improves to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in conference action.

Next up for the Marauders is a road trip to face their next SIAC opponent as they look to bounce back from a hard-fought defeat.