ATLANTA, GA (December 20, 2015) – Fort Valley State University (2-9; 0-2) came within a hair of picking up a win over Shaw University (3-9) on Sunday, December 20, but it was not to be as the Wildcats dropped the game 80-79.
 
Senior center Ralph Wilson (Americus, GA) and senior point guard Marcelis Hansberry (Jackson, MS) scored 16-points each for the Wildcats, while Wilson blocked two shots and hit 7-for-14 shots from the floor. Hansberry made 7-of-11 shots from the field and hit two 3-pointers. Senior forward Dareial Franklin (Gadsden, AL) grabbed 6 rebounds.
 
FVSU finished the game with 31 rebounds, while making 30-of-63 shots, 10-of-23 threes and made 9-of-17 free throws.
 
Shaw had 38 boards, while making 23-of-51 shots from the field, 6-of-15 trays and 28-of-36 foul shots.
 
Shaw was led by Larry Richardson with 14-points and David Madol 10 rebounds and 13-points.
 
Shaw gained its largest lead of 18-points in the first half with 8:02 left, but FVSU would later tie the game at 39-39 at the .52 second mark.
 
The Wildcats with .44 seconds left in the second half gained their first lead on Hansberry 3-pointer for a 79-78 lead. Shaw's Joell Hopkins made two free throws with .11 seconds left on the clock to give Shaw the 80-79 win.
 
Next game: The Wildcats will travel to Montgomery, AL on December 30, 2015 to play the Hornets of Alabama State University in a 7 p.m. (CST) contest.
 
The team will return home to host Kentucky State University on January 2, 2016 at 8 p.m.