In a battle for first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division, Clark Atlanta fell to Albany State in double overtime 74-71 Monday in Albany, Ga.

Clark Atlanta (7-12, 7-4 SIAC) had a chance to take a half game lead in the SIAC East race, but now remain in second, a game behind Albany State (12=9, 9-3 SIAC) and a game ahead of third-place Morehouse.

CAU was up by eight points late in the second half of regulation, but Albany State used an 11-3 run over the final six minutes to send the game into overtime. 

In the first overtime, Clark Atlanta twice led by four points, the last time after Shannon Smith hit a layup with 1:22 left, making it 63-59.  But Randy McClure followed with a layup 40 seconds later to pull ASU within a basket of tying. On CAU's next possession, Tyler Singleton turned the ball over with 29 seconds left. ASU's Juwan High missed a shot with five seconds left, but Napoleon Harris grabbed the rebound and put the ball back in with one second left to send the game into a second overtime at 63-63.

In the second overtime, led by two points early after a Singleton layup made it 67-65 with 4:09 left in the overtime period.  Albany State outscored CAU 6-0 over the next two minutes to go up 71-67.  Justin Longstreet hit two free throws to pull CAU to within two again at 71-69 with 1:45 left.  

Two more Panthers turnovers and a foul eventually put ASU back on the free throw line, where Mario Young hit two free throws with 22 seconds remaining to make it 73-69.  Ian Roach hit a layup with four seconds left to pull CAU to within two at 73-71, but High hit a free throw after a CAU foul to put the game away.

Albany State had a whopping 52-24 advantage in the paint Monday and scored 24 points off turnovers after winning the turnover battle 18-8.

Singleton led CAU with his Clark Atlanta career-high of 25 points, along with five rebounds and two assists. Romaine Thomas finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, while Longstreet had ten points and four boards.

Mario Young led six Albany State players in double figures with 17 points along with nine rebounds. Harris had 14 points and eight rebounds, while McClure finished with ten points and nine rebounds.

The Panthers next head to Benedict (8-12, 4-7 SIAC) on Saturday, Feb. 1 before hosting Paine (2-14, 2-9 SIAC) on Monday, Feb. 3 in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.