FORT VALLEY, GA – Junior Jamaal Garror (Conyers, GA) led Fort Valley State University Wildcats basketball team in scoring with 19-points as they defeated the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University 85-79 Thursday night at the HPE Complex.
 
FVSU improved its overall record to 12-11 and 9-4 in SIAC action, while CAU fell to 14-10 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
 
Garror made 6-of-12 baskets from the field, hit one 3-pointer, went 6-of -8 at the free throw line, and  pulled down six rebounds. Senior Denard Williams scored a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Junior James Barnes hit 17 points and senior Jalen Crawford added 12 more.   
 
In the opening 10 seconds of the game, Williams set the tone with a Wildcat dunk for the 2-0 lead. After going up by four points and seven ties, the Wildcats increased the score by nine (31-22) with 3 minutes left until halftime. The Panthers cut the game to seven twice as Tim Sanders made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to send the Wildcats to the locker room up by only four (33-29).
 
Barnes led FVSU with eight points and Anthony Williams had 11 for CAU at the half. The Wildcats had 22 rebounds to CAU's 18. FVSU forced CAU into nine turnovers during the first period.
 
At the start of the second half, Sanders' 3-pointer closed CAU's gap to 33-32. The Panthers then tied the game at 41-41 with 14:38 on the clock. Garror's free throw at the 9:36 mark made the score an eight point (56-48) advantage. In regulation, Derek Harper sank a three pointer to tie the game at 65-65 with nine seconds left.
 
In overtime, after two ties the Wildcats went up by six (75-69) with 2:55 left and increased that lead to nine (81-72) with 59 seconds remaining. Garror's free throw finalized the game for the Wildcats' win, 85-79.    
 
The Wildcats next game is home on Saturday, February 11, as Tuskegee University comes to town for an 8 pm game.