FAIRFIELD, Ala. – Senior Denard Williams racked up rebounds for the Fort Valley State men's basketball team as he grabbed a career high 24 rebounds in the overtime victory over the Golden Bears of Miles College 84-80 Monday at the Knox-Windham Gymnasium.
 
Williams led FVSU (10-11; 8-4) in rebounding with one assist, one block and two steals on the night. Junior James Barnes posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. He hit 4-of-8 shots from the field, 5-of-10 at the foul line, two assists and blocked three shots. Senior Jalen Crawford led the team in scoring with 14 points.  Sophomore Jaylan McMillian came off the bench to add 10 points, and Junior Jamaal Garror added 11. The Wildcats had 56 rebounds to Miles 48.
 
The Wildcats made 33-of-83 shots for 39.8 percent from the floor. They were 5-for-26 for 19.2 percent from behind the arc and 13-of-31 free throws for 41.9 percent. FVSU scored 16 points off turnovers, 19 points on second chance shots, and 31 points from bench players. The Wildcats forced the Golden Bears to 12 turnovers.
 
Sheldon Wright and Joshua Samuels led Miles with 14 points each, while Shaquille Cook pulled down 12 rebounds and scored 13 points. Carl Garcia and Joshua Johnson added 13 and 10 points.
 
Barnes tied the game at 15-15 in the first half, but the Wildcats continued to trail by as much as seven points until the 4:12 mark. McMillan's layup tied the game for a second time at 27-27. Williams's jumper with 3:00 minutes left gave FVSU their first lead 29-27 and Anton Hurst's layup with one second on the clock would send FVSU to the locker room up 36-35 at halftime.
 
In overtime, Crawford's jumper increased FVSU to 75-73. Both teams would trade blows until FVSU took the lead for good by making 3-for-6 free throws and a fast break dunk by Garror.
 
The Wildcats will return home to play Albany State University for homecoming on Saturday, February 4, at 8 pm.