COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Wildcats are turning into a team the league won't want to face. Fort Valley State made a key mid-second half run and took down Benedict College, 65-52, for its fourth win in five men's basketball contests.

The Wildcats led for the final 37:31 of the game. Benedict did pull within a single point, 44-43, with 9:20 remaining, but FVSU had the response. Jahlen Jack drained a pair of 3-pointers with a Sayerr Senghore jumper in between in the key 8-straight points and nine-point cushion, 52-43. Senghore pushed the margin to as many as a dozen, 58-46, with his second triple of the day before the 13-point final.

With the win, FVSU (5-11/4-5 SIAC East) completed its second 2-0 week of the month. In fact, the Wildcats have now won four of its last five contests with the one defeat being by only four points. FVSU recorded its first win on the court in the last six meetings with Benedict Collge (3-13/3-7 SIAC East) since a Jan. 31 of 2022 win by a 61-58 final in Fort Valley. It was also FVSU's first win in Columbia since a 90-73 final back on Feb. 11 of 2019.

Senghore paced the visitors with 17 points on 6 of 9 from the floor, including hitting both of his 3-point tries, to go with six rebounds and an assist.

Hassane Diallo made all five of his foul shots as part of his 11 points, 8-rebound and 3-block day. Jack downed three treys for nine points, while he added five assists, three rebounds and two steals. Marcus Scott added eight points and Khirus Doucet dished six assists and two points.

Off the bench, Antonio Pelham, Micah Glover and Mike Robinson each netted five points. Pelham grabbed four rebounds and a blocked shot, while Glover had two boards. Tyler Pendergrass had one bucket and Jaylen Jackson pulled in five boards.

Donte Whymns paced Benedict with 19 points and nine rebounds.

Senghore started the game's scoring with a pair of free throws and then after the Tigers tied the contest, 2-2, hit a trey and gave the Wildcats the advantage they would not give up. After the Senghore triple, Diallo laid the ball in and Jack jacked a 3-pointer to complete the 8-0 spurt.

FVSU led the first half by as many as 11 points twice, 20-9 and 22-11. A Robinson free throw with three seconds gave the visitors a 34-25 intermission lead.

FVSU returns to Columbia on Monday afternoon, Jan. 20, in for a 3 p.m. tip-off at Allen University.

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