MEMPHIS, TN – The Fort Valley State University Men's Basketball Team ended the year with a 76-72 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) win over the Magicians of LeMoyne-Owen College Saturday night at the Bruce-Johnson Gymnasium on LeMoyne-Owen's campus.
 
With the win, the Wildcats improved to 8-6 overall and 5-1 in SIAC play. LOC dropped to 4-8 overall and 1-6 in the conference.
 
Jaylon McMillan led the Wildcats in scoring with 18-points while making seven baskets and four three-pointers. Tyler Edwards followed with 17-points and a team-high seven rebounds. Edwards also drained 9-of-10 free throws, dished out two assists, blocked one shot and had five steals. Jamaal Garror and Eric Banks added 12 and 10 points each.
 
Demba Konate scored 19-points for LOC and Jaequan Brown grabbed seven boards.
 
The Wildcats outscored the Magicians 42-points to 34 in the paint, 22-points to 11 off turnovers, 15-points to 13 on second-chance shots and 19-points to 15 from players coming off the bench.
 
Edwards scored the first two points for the Wildcats and after six-ties went up by 6 (22-16) with 11:21 left until halftime. The lead would not hold as the Magicians tied the score for the ninth time at 26, then went ahead 33-28 at intermission.
 
McMillan hit a 3-pointer at the 14:44 mark in the second half to give FVSU a 38-37 lead. The Wildcats largest lead of 11-points came at the 10:19 mark in the second half off of a James Barnes' layup. LOC's Konate's three-pointer closed the gap to four with four seconds remaining.  
 
 
The Wildcats next game is Monday, January 1, 2018, in Jackson, TN with the Dragons of Lane College at 4 p.m.