FAIRFIELD, Ala. – For the second year in a row, the Wildcats saw a tough ending against the Bears. Fort Valley State played a good opening half and extended the advantage to nine points to start the second 20 minutes, but Miles College used deep shooting of eight 3-pointers for the comeback, 70-57, men's basketball win.

After Kenton Eskridge pumped in a trey to start the game, the Wildcats later put together a strong final five minutes to turn a one-point deficit into an eight-point, 36-28, advantage at intermission. Following a FVSU (3-10) Quincy Young opening bucket of the second stanza, Miles College (9-3) rattled off the next 10 points with a pair of triples and added another 9-0 burst a few minutes later for a 53-45 turnaround with 11:30 to go. Myson Lowe laid in a basket next, but the Golden Bears put the next five points on the scoreboard and allowed the Wildcats no closer than nine points on three occasions over the final six minutes.

Eskridge connected on 6 of 8 shots for a FVSU-best 15 points to go with four rebounds and a pair of assists. Khadim Samb was right behind with 14 points and a trio of rebounds. Davorian Rudolph had a perfect shooting day with 5 of 5 from the field, 2 of 2 from long-range and made his lone free throw for 13 points.

Alvin Miles led four Golden Bear double-figure scorers with 19 points, including three 3-pointers. The Golden Bears outrebounded their visitors, 36-25, but more importantly drained 8 of 17 treys in the second half after they went 1 of 10 in the opening 20 minutes.

FVSU will now have a week off before its 2024 first home game next Saturday afternoon, Jan. 13, against Savannah State in a 3 p.m. tip-off.

-Wildcats-