COLUMBUS, GA (December 8, 2014) – Fort Valley State never led in the game, but earned two ties at 8-8 and 10-10 with 13:41 remaining in the first half Monday nights at Columbus State Lumpkin Center in men's basketball action. The Wildcats, despite shooting 56 percent from the field in the second-half, was no-match for the Cougars of Columbus State University with a 95-75 loss.
 
FVSU fell to 0-7 overall and CSU increased their overall record to 6-1.
 
CSU started the game by draining a pair of jumper by BJ Battle and Kenney Funderburk in the first two minutes, 46 seconds for a 4-0 lead. FVSU snapped their scoring drought with a 3-pointer by senior forward Tyrone Brinson (assisted by senior forward Derrick Spear) with 17:22 left in the first half.
 
Spear made a jumper to tie the game at 8-8 with 14:47 on the clock, and then Brinson sank a second jumper for the 10-10 tie at the 13:41 mark. This was as close as the Wildcats would get on the night.  
 
CSU closed the first-half with a 15-6 run on a basket by Tim Dixon with one second left for a 46-26 lead as time expired.
 
FVSU shot 29 percent from the field in the first half, converting 9 baskets in 31 attempts. CSU were 21-of-32 from the floor (65.6 percent). FVSU was 4-of-9 from the 3-point line, while CSU was 2-for-3. FVSU hit 33.3 percent of their free throws (4-of-12) and CSU went 2-of-8 at the line (25 percent).
 
CSU improved their lead to 70-38 on a layup by Dimitri Davis with 11:26 remaining. The Cougars held a 30 point lead five times in the second half and a 32 points lead twice with the last coming with 7:07 left 78-46.
 
FVSU's freshman guard J.R. Bryant made a 3-pointer to close the gap 71-86 with 1:57 left and would be as close as the Wildcats would get.
 
The Wildcats were 23-of-56 from the floor in the final twenty minutes of the game. The Cougars recorded 51.4 percent from the field (36-of-70). FVSU shooting from 3-point land was their best this season by making 13-of-23 three pointers (56.5 percent); CSU hit 31.3 percent from behind the arc (5-of-16). FVSU shot 50 percent from the line (16-of-32) and CSU was 18-of-29 at the free throw line (62.1 percent).
 
Brinson led all scorers with a game-high 21 points for the Wildcats on 7-of-11 shooting, 4-of-5 in three's, 3-of-4 at the free throw line, while grabbing a team-high 7 rebounds. Freshman guard Jamaal Garror came off the bench to add 15 point on 4-of-5 baskets from the field, 4-of-4 in 3-pointers and 3-of-4 from the charity line. Spear added 10 points and senior point guard Desmond Lofland dished out 4 assist.
 
DeAngelo Kirkland led CSU with 20 points and 7 boards, while Funderburk had 19, Battle 14, Dixon 12, and Dimitri Davis 10 points.    
 
CSU grabbed 44 rebounds to FVSU's 38, while FVSU had 18 turnovers to CSU's 10.
 
The Wildcats will travel to Dothan, AL on Thursday, December 11 to play an exhibition game with Troy State University at the Dothan Civic Center, with game time set for 7 p.m.