ATLANTA, Ga. – The Wildcats made the January statement Saturday afternoon. After Morehouse College edged ahead on a free throw with 12 seconds, Marcus Scott beat the buzzer and gave Fort Valley State the 58-57 men's basketball upset.
Jaylen Jackson helped FVSU tie the contest, 56-56, with 38 seconds on a layup. Following the go ahead Maroon Tiger free throw, Scott propelled the Wildcats to their first win in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series in 15 games and first victory in eight games on the Morehouse home court.
FVSU (7-11) ran its current win streak to four-straight games and six in the last seven contests. The Wildcats also went above .500 in the SIAC East at 6-5 and pulled within a half game of the Maroon Tigers' (9-9) mark of 6-4. FVSU snapped its 15-game losing streak to Morehouse College as its last win the series came on Feb. 18 of 2015 by a 75-71 final.
For the afternoon, Scott made 4 of his 8 field goals, including a 3-pointer, for nine points to go with four rebounds. The current SIAC Newcomer of the Week, Sayerr Senghore paced FVSU with 13 points on 6 of 11 shots with one triple to go with four boards, two blocks and an assist.
Hassane Diallo registered a double-double of 10 points on 3 of 5 shots and 4 of 4 free throws and 11 rebounds. Off the bench, Antonio Pelham drained four first-half 3-pointers for 12 points while he pulled in three caroms and assisted on another bucket.
Jahlen Jack finished with an all-around effort of six points, five rebounds, three assists, a block and one steal. Jackson chipped in five points, six rebounds and a block, while Khirus Doucet dished out six assists to go with five rebounds, three points and a steal.
Amahn Decker led Morehouse with 14 points.
Jack put in the game's first basket as the Wildcats ran out to a quick 9-3 advantage where Scott hit back-to-back shots of a trey and a jump shot. Senghore extended the visitors' lead with a 3-pointer and a layup for a 14-5 lead only 4:32 into the day.
Morehouse, eventually, tied the contest with a run at both 27-27 and 31-31. Pelham downed two of his four treys and Diallo added the final four points for a 41-33 FVSU intermission lead.
The Wildcats extended the margin right away in the second 20 minutes off a Jack 3-pointer and Senghore dunk, 46-33. With a 48-37 score, Morehouse made the biggest run of the matchup of 17-0 over a 7:52 period off the clock for a 54-48 new found lead.
FVSU came right back with the ensuing five points and trailed by a single point, 54-53, heading to the final 6:42 before the point became hard to come by.
FVSU aims for its fifth win in a row on Monday night, Jan. 27, on a return trip to Atlanta against Clark Atlanta. Tip will be at 7:30 p.m.
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