SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Wildcats got the engine going fully late in the game but ran out of time to complete their charge to the lead. Fort Valley State mounted a comeback drive over a six-minute period only to see LeMoyne-Owen College have just enough to hang on for the 86-78 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament First Round final.

Trailing by 18 points, 69-51, with 8:43 remaining, FVSU (7-21) cut the margin in half off Antonio Pelham's shooting with a trey and jumper and Joe Williams pair of inside buckets for a 69-60 deficit two minutes later. Kenton Eskridge took over for the Wildcats next with a jump shot and 3-pointer and FVSU would trail by only four, 72-68, at 3:43. A final Pelham triple with 54 seconds took the difference back to four, 79-75, at 54 ticks on the clock and Jahlen Jack's running jump with 26 seconds gave FVSU one final gasp, 82-78. The Wildcats, though, misfired on their final three attempts from the field and the Magicians made four free throws to seal it.

Kenton Eskridge was the second-half force and he finished with a FVSU-best 19 points on 6 of 13 from the floor, three treys, and all four of his free throws to go with five rebounds, four assists and three steals in his final collegiate outing. After keeping the team in the game in the first 20 minutes with 15 points, Myson Lowe wrapped up the day with 17 points on 7 of 16 tries, two 3-pointers, and three assists. Pelham hit for his career-high of 16 points on 6 of 13 shots with four treys.

Kevan Eskridge and Davorian Rudolph came off the bench for seven tallies and six points and nine rebounds. Williams contributed four points, three boards and a block in his final game and Pierre Mitchell had three assists and a free throw in his.

The Magicians had Tariq Shepherd lead their charge with 19 points.

In the first half, Lowe led the contest with a triple. Pelham hit his first bucket two minutes late to retake a 5-4 lead early on. After falling behind by five, Lowe pumped in a pair of baskets for a 13-12 deficit with 14:22 in the opening frame. Following a Rudolph baseline bucket, LeMoyne-Owen ran off 14-straight points and opened a 29-14 advantage midway through the half.

Lowe, again, led the Wildcats back with seven of the 10-0 spurt to pull back within 29-24 at 6:21. The Magicians answered with the following 13 points for a 42-24 lead again, before the Wildcats finished the half on a 10-2 outburst and 44-34 intermission score.

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