FORT VALLEY, GA (November 14, 2015) – After a rocky start in the GSC/SIAC Classic with a loss to Valdosta State on yesterday, Fort Valley State bounced back gaining the Wildcats their first win of the season in overtime 82-81 over the University of West Florida Saturday afternoon at the HPE Complex.
The win moves the Wildcats to 1-1 and West Florida to 0-2 on the season. The Wildcats fell to VSU Friday night, but won against UWF. UWF dropped both games in the Classic.
As the clock hit zero, the score was tied 74-74 and the teams were headed to overtime.
Dareial Franklin scored the first basket in OT for FVSU 76-74, but UWF's Lendward Griffin layup would tie the game for the 11
th time 76-76. Griffin snake two more baskets to increase the score to 76-80 with 3 minutes left. Marclis Hansberry layup closed the gap 78-80, and then
Tyler Edwards's two free throws tied the game for the 12
th time 80-80. UWF's Somerfield went to the foul line for two shots with .19 seconds remaining. Somerfield missed the front end and made the second shot for an 80-81 score. Edwards layup was the winning basket 82-81 for the Wildcats with .12 seconds left.
The Wildcats largest lead of 10-points (23-13) came in the first half with 9:19 left, but UWF tied the game at 25-25 with 3:53 left. The teams would go to half tied 32-32.
UWF went up twice by 7-points (55-62) in the second half and the second at the 5:30 mark.
Jaylon McMillan tied the game for the Wildcats 70-70 with 2:32 to go. Then, UWF's Rashaan Benson gave his team a 70-74 lead with .58 seconds left on the clock. Hansberry jumper made it 72-74 with .45 seconds remaining; Mario Stramaglia missed a jumper for UWF with .14 second left. Franklin's jumper would send the game into OT at 74-74.
Franklin led the Wildcats with 21-points, while making 8-of-12 baskets, 2-of-5 in three pointers, 3-of-4 at the free throw line and 4 rebounds. Edwards added 11-points and made 5-of-8 free throws, while
Maritea Duke and
Ralph Wilson had 6 rebounds apiece.
Somerfield led all scores for UWF with 35-points and a game-high 18 rebounds. Stramaglia and Griffin added 13-points each.
FVSU made 32-of-68 (47.1%) baskets, went 7-for-28 (25%) from 3-point land and 11-for-16 (68.8%) at the foul line. The Wildcats grabbed 39 rebounds, 16 assist, added 4 blocks and stole 6 balls.
UWF hit 31-of-71 (43.7) shots from the floor, 16-of-24 (66-7%) at the free throw line, while pulling down 44 boards, making 16 assist and 7 steals.
UWF outscored the Wildcats in the paint 47-36, but FVSU scored 19-points to 17 off turnovers, 16-13 points on fast break points and got 38-points to UWF's 11-points from bench players.
Next game: The Wildcats will travel to Jacksonville, AL., on tomorrow November 15 to play the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State University in an exhibition game at 2 p.m. (CST).
