ATLANTA, GA | The Morehouse Maroon Tigers suffered a heartbreaking overtime defeat at home, falling to the Albany State Golden Rams, 76-73, after squandering a 19-point first-half lead. What began as a dominant showing unraveled in dramatic fashion, as the Golden Rams clawed their way back to secure a statement victory.
FIRST HALF
The Morehouse Maroon Tigers dominated the first half of their matchup against Albany State, putting on a clinic on both ends of the court to build what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. The Tigers came out with relentless energy, establishing control of the pace and dictating the flow of the game.
From the opening moments, guard Jaden Gray set the tone for Morehouse with a quick three-pointer, assisted by Cedric Taylor III, giving the Tigers an early 3-0 advantage. Shortly thereafter, forward Dre Watson electrified the Frank L. Forbes Arena crowd with a thunderous fast-break dunk following a steal by JerMontae Hill. Moments later, Watson struck again, grabbing an offensive rebound and flushing it home with authority to extend the Tigers' lead.
The Maroon Tigers' defense was stifling, forcing Albany State into six first-half turnovers and converting those into 12 points. Hill and Gray were instrumental in disrupting Albany's offense, combining for three steals and consistently pressuring the Golden Rams' ball handlers. Amahn Decker also made his presence felt in the paint, blocking a shot by Jabari Williams and grabbing crucial rebounds to prevent second-chance opportunities.
Offensively, Morehouse thrived on ball movement and shooting efficiency. The team dished out 11 assists on 14 made field goals in the half, showcasing excellent teamwork and unselfish play. Clifford Barrow drained two long-range three-pointers, one coming off a kick-out from Taylor, as the Maroon Tigers stretched the defense and punished Albany for sagging in the paint. Taylor also contributed with a strong post move for a layup, while Gray added a crafty drive and finish.
Morehouse's interior dominance was a defining feature of the first half. They outscored Albany State 18-6 in points in the paint, with Watson and Decker consistently converting high-percentage opportunities. Decker also added a pair of put-backs after offensive rebounds, further emphasizing the Maroon Tigers' control of the boards early in the game.
As the half progressed, Morehouse built a 19-point lead with a balanced attack. Hill knocked down a pair of mid-range jumpers, and Taylor scored on a fast-break layup following a turnover. The Maroon Tigers' bench also made an impact, with Omar Rowe hitting a three-pointer off a Decker screen to widen the gap. Even when Albany State attempted to chip away at the lead, Morehouse's defensive intensity kept the visitors from gaining any momentum.
At halftime, Morehouse held a commanding 37-25 lead. They shot 50% from the field (14-of-28) and hit 4-of-15 three-pointers. The Tigers also controlled the boards with a 19-18 rebounding edge, including three offensive rebounds that led to six second-chance points.
SECOND HALF
The second half of the Morehouse Maroon Tigers' matchup against Albany State marked a dramatic turning point, as the Tigers' early dominance gave way to a relentless Golden Rams comeback. Despite holding a 12-point lead at halftime (37-25), Morehouse saw their offensive efficiency dwindle and their defensive focus waver under Albany State's growing intensity.
The Maroon Tigers started the half with a quick burst of energy, as Cedric Taylor III drove to the basket for a fast-break layup after a Clifford Barrow steal, extending Morehouse's lead to 39-27. Moments later, JerMontae Hill added another layup, pushing the lead back to 41-30. However, this would be one of the last times Morehouse maintained full control, as Albany State began to make adjustments.
The Golden Rams' began a rally with a three-pointer that cut the deficit to single digits, followed by the Albany State post players, who began to dominate the boards and contribute to second-chance points. Meanwhile, Morehouse's offense began to falter, with missed shots and turnovers halting their momentum.
As Morehouse struggled to score consistently, Albany State methodically chipped away at the deficit. The Golden Rams tightened up their defense, forcing Morehouse into contested shots and turnovers. The Tigers' shooting efficiency dropped noticeably in the second half. They shot just 9-of-31 from the field (29%) and only 3-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Despite their struggles, the Tigers had flashes of brilliance. Jaden Gray delivered a smooth layup off a crafty dribble-drive, and Taylor III scored on a put-back after grabbing an offensive rebound. However, these moments were few and far between as Morehouse was outscored 41-29 in the half.
On the defensive end, Morehouse tried to stem the tide with key blocks, including one from Amahn Decker on a Jabari Williams layup attempt. Yet, Albany State's relentless attack and offensive rebounding (they grabbed nine offensive boards in the second half) wore down the Maroon Tigers' defense.
In the final minutes of regulation, Morehouse clung to a slim lead, but Albany State's persistence prevailed. A late three-pointer by Albany State tied the game at 66-66 with under a minute remaining. Morehouse had a chance to win, but Sincere Key's three-point attempt at the buzzer missed, sending the game into overtime.
OVERTIME
The Golden Rams carried their second-half momentum into the overtime period, with a layuo, giving Albany State their first lead of the game since the opening minutes. The Maroon Tigers responded with a determined effort, as Amahn Decker converted on an offensive rebound, to tie the score. Albany State would go on a 5-0 run, regaining the lead for the Golden Rams.
Jermontae Hill would score on a fast break. Then Albany State would hit a free throw to go up four points. Sincere Key's three-pointer would cut the Golden Rams lead to one-point, 74-73. The fiinal points of the game would be a Golden Ram lay-up with 1:02 remaining, leaving the final score a 76-73.
TEAM COMPARISON
Albany State's second-half surge saw them out-rebound Morehouse 43-38 overall, including a 17-14 edge on the offensive glass. The Golden Rams shot 29-of-67 (43.3%) from the field, compared to Morehouse's 26-of-65 (40%). Albany State capitalized on turnovers, scoring 16 points off Morehouse's 15 giveaways.
MOREHOUSE LEADERS
For Morehouse, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, as they had previously been 2-0 in overtime games this season. For the Maroon Tigers, it was a frustrating conclusion to what had begun as a dominant performance. Morehouse travels down Atlanta Student Movement Blvd. to face the Clark-Atlanta Panthers on Saturday. The tip is at 2PM. For up-to-date athletic information on the Maroon Tigers, follow them on social media or online at
www.morehouseathletics.com.
