AUGUSTA, GA (January 16, 2016) – Senior center Ralph Wilson led Fort Valley State University Wildcats (3-15; 1-7) with a double-double team-high 19-points and game-high 13 rebounds to first conference win 87-84 of the season over Paine College (4-14; 1-8) Saturday afternoon at the HEAL Complex on Paine's campus. The Wildcats had lost 11 games straight games and 7 straight SIAC games.
 
Wilson made 7-of-14 shots from the field, went 5-for-5 at the free throw line, had one assist, blocked one shot and two steals. Senior guard Dareial Franklin added 19-points, senior point guard Marcelis Hansberry with 14 and junior guard LeRoy Broner chipped in 12.
 
Patrick Petty led the Lions in scoring with a game-high 28-points, while Kaderious Compton scored 21 and 11 rebounds, Christian Nobles and Arnis Libazs had 13 and 12-points.
 
First half, FVSU took a 46-38 lead to halftime. Wilson scored the first three points on a jumper and free throw 3-0 and Broner's jumper increased the lead to 16-points (33-17) at the 6:19 mark.
 
Second half, Loins Nobles cut the Wildcats lead to two points (58-56) with 13:32 left, but Wilson's layup pushed the lead back to 67-56. With 3:04 to go, Paine tied the game 81-81, and then Libazs made it a one-point (86-84) game with fifty-three second left.  Wilson stepped to the foul line with ten seconds on the scoreboard and drained two free throws for the win.  
 
FVSU scored on 34-of-69 (49.3%) shots from the floor, made three 3-pointers and hit a team-high 80% (16-of-20) at the free throw line. Paine went 24-for-64 (37.5%) from the field, hit 11-of-27 (40.7%) trays and scored on 25-of-35 (71.4) from the foul line.
 
The Wildcats led Paine in scoring in the paint 42-20, 15-13 off turnovers, 10-6 on fast break points and 27-13 from players coming off the bench, but the Lions went 16 to 3 on second chance baskets.
 
Next game: The Wildcats travel to Columbia, SC and Orangeburg, SC on January 21 to play Benedict College at 8 p.m. and January 23 play Claflin University at 3 p.m.