Box Score By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
When the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) met the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College in basketball action tonight in the Forbes Arena, FVSU was playing with the hope of breaking a three game losing streak. In the midst of a six game road trip, a win by the Wildcats would be their first since defeating Lane College on January 20th.
While it was a cold and dreary night in Atlanta, in the first half, the Wildcats heated things up on the Morehouse campus as Jeremy Sledge provided the spark. With 8:30 left in half, Sledge already had 13 points on four three-point baskets. Earlier in the half, the Wildcats led by as many as 10 points.
That lead dissipated as the game got closer to intermission. With 5:46 left, the Wildcats held a 31-29 lead. At the five minute mark, the Wildcats relinquished the lead as the Maroon Tigers took a 32-31 lead. With two minutes left, the Wildcats trailed 37-35. Trailing 40-39 with 18 seconds left, the Wildcats had an opportunity to seize the lead at the break. A lay up by Nigel Domineck gave the Wildcats a brief 41-40 lead. However, the Maroon Tigers scored with only seconds remaining to take a 42-41 lead into the locker room.
At the start of the second half, the Maroon Tigers jumped to an early five point lead, 48-43. After cutting the Maroon Tiger lead to one point, 48-47, Morehouse took a time out with 17:25 remaining. After two free throws from FVSU's Desmond Lofland with 13:52 left, the Morehouse lead was still one point, 53-52.
After a solid defensive effort, FVSU re-claimed the lead with 13:15 remaining when Martavius Orr scored on a floater in the lane to give the Wildcats a 54-53 lead. After two free throws by Orr at the 9:24 mark, the Wildcat led was 65-64. Minutes later, a corner jumper by Brandon Davey extended the Wildcat lead to 69-66. At the 6:30 mark, FVSU led 70-68.
With 4:30 left, the Maroon Tigers reclaimed the lead, 76-72. With 1:16 left, Orr was fouled but was injured and not able to shoot the free throws. Domineck shot the free throws in his place and missed both. After a stop on the defensive end, FVSU's Davey was fouled with 32 seconds remaining, He made both and the Morehouse lead was cut to 76-74.
With 25 seconds remaining, Christopher Clarke of Morehouse was fouled and hit two free throws to take the margin back to four points, 78-74. After a time out, the Wildcats got a basket on a lay up by Lofland with 11 seconds left to make it a 78-76 game.
After a time out, Clarke was intentionally fouled and again made the free throws for Morehouse. With 10 seconds left, the Morehouse lead was 80-76. A turnover by the Wildcats and a foul sent Jonathan Tassin to the line for game's final two free throws. The Maroon Tigers held on to defeat the Wildcats, 82-76.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Wildcats who are now 5-14 overall and 5-10 in conference play. The Wildcats had four players to score in double figures with Sledge, Lofland, and Orr scoring 15 points each. Brandon Davey finished with 14.
The Wildcats are back in action on Thursday (Feb. 3rd) at 7:30 p.m. (cst) when they travel to Tuskegee to meet the Golden Tigers. Women's action will precede the men's contest with a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.
-Wildcats Athletics-
