FORT VALLEY, GA (December 6, 2014) – Fort Valley State could not hold their lead Saturday night in a non-conference game at HPE Complex on the campus of FVSU. The Wildcats fell short in a nail-biter to Georgia College & State University by the score of 76-68.
FVSU fell to 0-6 overall on the season and GCSU raised their overall record to 4-2.
There were two ties and four lead changes in the first eight minutes and 27 seconds of the game. GCSU jumped out to a 4 point lead at 18:35, FVSU tied the game at 4-4 at the 16:43 mark and then a second tie 6-6 with 15:11 to go to half.
Leading 10-6, the Wildcats outscored the Bobcats 15-8 to gain their largest lead of the game 21-12 with 7:31 left in the first half.
GCSU trimmed the lead to 21-19 with 5:42 remaining before intermission. FVSU's
Derrick Spear nailed a pair of free throws to put the Wildcats up 33-24 at halftime.
FVSU shot 41.7 percent from the field (10-of-24), while GCSU was 27.8 percent (10-of-36). The Wildcats were 11-of-17 from the foul line (64.7 percent) compared to GCSU's 3-of-6 (50.0 percent).
FVSU kicked off the second-half by scoring four straight points to extend the lead to 37-24, after
Derrick Spear's jumper and
Desmond Lofland layup.
The Wildcats, then improved their lead to 16 points three times with the last being at the 11:51 mark. FVSU gained their largest lead of 18 points (53-35) with 11:21 left.
The Bobcats answered by with a 26-5 run on Larrentis Thomas free throw for a one point lead 61-59 and Spear's sank two foul shots to tie the game at 61-61 with 1:05 left to play and into overtime.
In overtime, the Wildcats led 65-64 with 3:36 left, before GCSU gained the lead at 68-65 with 1:55 remaining.
Spear's for FVSU made a 3-pointer with 1:38 left for the tie at 68-68.
Then, three back-to-back turnovers by the Wildcats gave GCSU command of the game and win 76-68.
Both teams struggled from the field in the second half with the Wildcats shooting 43.5 percent (10-of-23) and Bobcats 40.7 percent (11-of-27).
Three FVSU players scored in double-digits. Senior forward
Tyrone Brinson earned a double-double of 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, as well as blocking to shots. Senior point guard
Derrick Spear led the Wildcats in scoring with a game-high 24 points. He was 7-of-14 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line, with 4 rebounds. Junior forward
D'Areial Franklin added 14 points and 5 rebounds and senior point guard
Desmond Lofland dished out a game-high 6 assist and scored another 5 points.
Terrell Harris led the Bobcats with 20 points on his 7-of-12 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds, while Larrentis Thomas grabbed a game-high 13 boards and 14 points. Dwight Andreson and Ryan Blumenthal added 13 points each.
FVSU shot 40.4 percent overall from the field (23-of-57) compared to GCSU 37.1 percent (26-of-70). The Wildcats drained 5 (3-pointers) in 20 attempts (25 percent), while the Bobcats went 4-of-16 (25 percent).
The Wildcats were 17-of-26 from the free throw line (65.4 percent). The Bobcats made 20-of-35 free throws (57.1 percent).
Both team ended with 46 rebounds apiece, while the Wildcats committed 20 turnovers in the game compared to GCSU's 11 turnovers.
FVSU looks to bounce back with their first win on Monday, December 8 in Columbus, Ga., as they play Columbus State University at 7:30 p.m.
