The Hill Has Eyes: Chase’s Season-High Sinks the Golden Rams
If you left L.S. Epps Gymnasium at halftime on Thursday, you might want to check your pulse—and your phone—because you missed a legitimate offensive metamorphosis. The Clark Atlanta Panthers shook off a sluggish start to absolutely dismantle the Albany State Golden Rams, 86–66. With the win, the Panthers pull their record back to a tidy .500 (3–3) and prove that when they get hot, the scoreboard starts sweating.
Chase Hill’s Masterclass
Junior Chase Hill decided that "season-high" sounded like a good goal for the evening. Hill lit up the Rams for 22 points on an incredibly efficient 8-of-13 shooting.
From a scouting perspective, Hill was the focal point of a second-half explosion that saw CAU transform a four-point halftime deficit into a 20-point blowout. When your primary scoring threat is shooting over 60% from the field and grabbing four boards to boot, the defense is basically just running cardio.
The "No-Fly Zone" in the Paint
While Hill was providing the fireworks, Kharye Cayne was busy acting as the stadium’s most aggressive bouncer. Cayne protected the rim with a season-high five blocks, effectively telling Albany State that the paint was closed for renovations.
Analytically, the interior was the difference maker:
Points in the Paint: CAU 44 | ASU 30
Rebounds: CAU 42 | ASU 38
Blocks: Cayne personally matched or exceeded most of the Rams' efforts at the rim.
The Second Half Surge
The Panthers opened the final frame on a 25–12 run, turning a 37–33 halftime deficit into a 58–49 lead with 12 minutes to play. It wasn't just a run; it was a statement. Darnell Evans (14 pts) and Hill combined to score 14 of the team’s final 28 points, ensuring that Albany State’s hopes of a comeback stayed in the locker room.
Inside the Box Score
Player The Stat The "Sanchez" Take
Chase Hill 22 Pts (Season High)When he finds his rhythm, the rim looks like a hula hoop.
Jadyn Shider 15 Pts The perfect complement to Hill’s perimeter-to-midrange game.
Team Percentages 47% FGA Season-high shooting night usually ends in a W.
Free Throws 80% (Automatic)In the SIAC, 80% from the line is basically a superpower.
The Bottom Line: This was the most complete game we’ve seen from the Panthers this season. Four players in double figures, season-high shooting percentages, and a defensive anchor in Cayne—that’s a recipe for a deep conference run.
UP NEXT: The Panthers look to climb over that .500 mark as they host Spring Hill College this Saturday, December 6, at 4 p.m. inside L.S. Epps Gymnasium.
Will Chase Hill keep the hot hand, or will Spring Hill find a way to navigate the "Cayne-Zone" under the basket? If CAU shoots 47% again, the rest of the conference better start taking notes.
