FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats saw the game slip out of their grasp Saturday afternoon. After leading the majority of the contest, Fort Valley State saw Clark Atlanta outlast it in the final moments by a tight 64-61 men's basketball final.

When Myson Lowe downed the game's opening 3-pointer only 2:47 into the day, the Wildcats enjoyed the lead for the next 25 minutes of the day. The Panthers, though, went into the game on a nine-game win streak and showed it down the stretch. Down 51-44 with 8:18 to go, Clark Atlanta ran off the next 12 points in under five minutes to go in front, 56-51. FVSU answered back with six in a row capped by an Antonio Pelham trey to edge ahea, 57-56, at 2:27. The visitors had one last spurt of seven tallies for another lead change, 63-57. Lowe made one of two free throws with 15 seconds to make it a 63-61 game, but FVSU misfired on its final two shots from there.

Kenton Eskridge made 6 of 10 field goals and 3 of 5 from long range for a Wildcat best 17 points. Samb made 5 of 11 of his tries, both 3-pointers, for 12 points to go with nine rebounds, eight defensive. Lowe added nine tallies and three assists, while Pelham connected on two treys for six points. Pierre Mitchell chipped in five points.

Xavier Griffith came off the CAU bench for 20 points.

FVSU went out ahead early by seven points after back-to-back 3-pointers from Eskridge and Pelham. The home team equalled the margin four more times (18-11, 20-13, 22-15 and 24-17) before the Panthers cut the margin to a point, 24-23.

The Wildcat lead continued into the second stanza when Lowe drained a triple to make it 37-30 at 16:59. The shot started the Panther 8-0 spurt for its first lead since early on at 38-37. FVSU rebuilt its advantage to seven, 51-44, before the game-deciding CAU momentum points.

FVSU will have to regroup quickly as it will host Morehouse College on Monday night, Feb. 3, in a 7:30 p.m. tip.

-Wildcats-