By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
In Saturday night (Feb. 5th) basketball, the Fort Valley State University (FVSU) teams traveled to Tuscaloosa, Alabama for a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference match up with the Tigers of Stillman College (SC). It was the second meeting of the season for teams with the FVSU women winning the earlier contest and the Stillman men taking the first men's game.
Lady Wildcats Basketball (Stillman 72, FVSU 64)
After a disappointing loss to Tuskegee University on Tuesday (76-72), the Lady Wildcats were eager to return to conference play tonight against the Lady Tigers. Now positioned second in the SIAC, each of the remaining games on the FVSU schedule takes on even more significance.
After a three point basket by KaDeidra Freeland gave FVSU an early 3-0 advantage, the Lady Tigers of Stillman quickly responded and the 15 minute mark, led 13-5. After another three point field goal by Freeland, and a two point basket by Yasheeka Jones, and a couple of free throws by Davina High, the Lady Wildcats cut the deficit to 13-12. With 10:16 remaining in the half, the Lady Tigers led 17-16.
At the 8:19 mark, a three point basket by FVSU's Brandi Haynes tied the game at 19 points. The next trip down the floor, the Lady Wildcats reclaimed the lead (21-19) after a Jones lay up. Minutes later, the Lady Wildcat lead expanded to 24-19 after High connected on a three point jumper.
As the Lady Wildcats stepped up the defensive intensity, it became more difficult for SC to get into a comfortable half court set. With 3:50 left, FVSU had their largest lead of the half, 28-22. Near the three minute mark, the Lady Tigers cut the lead to two points, 28-26.
With a minute remaining, SC tied the score at 28 each. Afterward, the Lady Wildcats got a turnover and scored in transition on a Jones lay up to take a two point lead. However, the Lady Tigers answered with a field goal with only seconds left and the teams went into the locker rooms tied at 30 each.
In a first half that included three ties and two lead changes, the Lady Wildcats shot 33% from the field (11 of 33) while the Lady Tigers shot 41% from the floor (11 of 27).
The second half started with a Jones lay up and FVSU full court pressure. A reverse lay up by Kendra Evans and a follow up tap in by her with 17:57 left forced a SC time out as the Lady Wildcats took a five point lead, 37-32.
As the Lady Wildcat defensive pressure continued to take a toll on SC, FVSU stretched its lead to 44-37. With 10:06 left, the Lady Wildcats had a seven point lead, 48-41. However, with 7:58 left in the game, the Lady Tigers made a run and cut the lead to just one point, 50-49. Moments later, the game was tied at 51 each after a Lady Tiger jump shot.
SC then took the lead after Phyllice Eubanks hit a jump shot. FVSU answered right back with a Tiffany Platt three point basket. That was followed by a Kendra Evans jump shot and a Haynes three pointer as FVSU was back on top 60-55 with 5:24 left.
With 3:50 remaining, the teams were tied again at 61 points. After a time out, Eubanks scored inside the paint to give SC a 63-61 lead. That was answered by a Haynes three point basket to put FVSU up by one, 64-63 with 2:18 left. Eubanks was fouled on the ensuing possession and hit two free throws to give SC the edged 65-64. Then, a missed FVSU jump shot put the ball back into the hands of the Lady Tigers who scored inside the paint to take a 67-64 lead with 55 seconds left.
The Lady Wildcats missed on a jump shot on the other end. SC had a fast break opportunity which was broken up by an intentional foul on Eubanks by Jones. Eubanks went to the line to shot two free throws. She made the first of two and SC led 68-64 and retained possession of the basketball. After working the clock, another basket inside the paint gave the Lady Tigers a 70-64 lead and the eventual win, 72-64.
The game featured seven ties and seven lead changes. The loss was the second consecutive for the Lady Wildcats who are now 14-8 overall and 12-4 in conference play. Kendra Evans and Yasheeka Jones led the Lady Wildcats in scoring with 12 points each. KaDeidra Freeland added 10 points.
The Lady Wildcats are back in action on Thursday, Feb. 10th in the HPE Arena when they host the Lady Panthers of Claflin University. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.
Wildcats Basketball (Stillman 90, FVSU 80)
The question of the night was would the momentum of FVSU's win over Tuskegee University on Thursday night carry over into tonight's contest with another conference leader, the Tigers of Stillman College?
The early indicators suggested that the answer would be a negative. In the game's first eight minutes, the Tigers shot extremely well from the floor. With 12:32 left, SC led 21-7 and forced a FVSU time out. At the 7:43 mark, the margin had grown to 17 points, as the Tigers took a 28-11 lead. With 5:15 left, the SC edge was still 17 points, 34-17.
As the first half came to a close, the Wildcats had managed to close the gap a little, trailing 43-27 at intermission.
FVSU made 10 field goals out of 33 attempts (30%) in the first half while the Tigers shot 50% from the floor converting 13 of 26 shots. Five of those 13 baskets were three pointers. The combination of the three point baskets, 16 points in the paint, seven fast break points, and seven points from reserve players partially explains the 16 point halftime Tiger lead.
At the start of the second half the Wildcats tried to rally. With 17:13 left, FVSU cut the Tiger lead to 48-35. After a Tommy Williams jumper with 15:06 left, FVSU had the deficit down to 11 points, trailing 53-42. On the ensuing possession, a Desmond Lofland steal led to a Brandon Davey lay up and the Tiger lead was down nine points, 53-44. At the 13:47 mark, Davey drained a jumper at the top of key and suddenly, the Tiger lead was only eight points, 55-47.
With 12 minutes left, the Tigers had re-built their lead back to 11 points, 63-52. At the 10:35 mark, Lofland's steal at mid-court led to a lay up by Martavius Orr and FVSU sliced the SC lead to 63-55. A Tommy Williams three point basket with 9:12 left cut the SC lead even further to 65-60. Moments later, an Emanuel Williams offensive rebound was converted to a lay up. He was fouled in the process, went to the line and hit the free throw to cut the Tiger lead to three points.
With 6:25 remaining, the Tigers still led, though, 73-67. After another offensive rebound by Williams and lay up the Wildcats cut the lead to 73-69. With 4:29 left, Davey hit a turn around jumper in the lane to make the score 75-71. A missed jumper by SC on the other end gave FVSU a fast break opportunity which was seized as Orr dished to Lofland for the lay up to make it a 75-73 game.
With 2:20 left, SC called a time out with a 77-73 lead. After the time out, two free throws by the Tigers pushed their lead to 79-73. On the other end, Orr made a three point basket to make it 79-76.
Unfortunately, the three point deficit would be as close as the Wildcats would get. With little time left and FVSU forced to foul, the Tigers extended their lead to 10 points and won the game, 90-80.
Brandon Davey led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points. He also had 10 rebounds. Emanuel Williams finished with 14 points while Martavius Orr and Desmond Lofland contributed 13 points each. Jeremy Sledge added 11 points.
After the loss, the Wildcats are now 6-15 overall and 6-11 in conference play. The Wildcats return to basketball action on Tuesday in the HPE Arena on the FVSU campus when they host the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College at 7:30 p.m.
-Wildcats Athletics-
