FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats are ready for the biggest home hoops finale. Fort Valley State hosts Albany State in the annual 'Winter Homecoming' this Saturday afternoon in a nationally broadcast women's and men's basketball doubleheader.
All Wildcat fans, alumni and families come and reconnect this Saturday, Feb. 22. The HPE Arena doors will open at 11 a.m. with the women's game to tip at 1 p.m. and the men following at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at: https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2new/BuyNew.asp?EventID=349907. All tickets are General Admission/single-entry for $30, good for both games.
If you cannot make it to 'The Valley,' both contests will be broadcast live on HBCU Go at: https://hbcugo.tv/
For the games:
Women:
Albany State (8-15/4-12 SIAC) vs. Fort Valley State (8-15/4-12 SIAC East)
1 p.m.
FVSU aims to extend its win streak over ASU to five games. The Wildcats won all three meetings last season, including the SIAC Quarterfinals, and added a fourth-straight by a 59-56 final on February 1 in Albany.
FVSU has came out the victors in each of the last two contests played in the HPE Arena with a 58-49 score on Jan. 21 of 2023 and 63-56 last Feb. 17. ASU picked up a 65-55 win three years ago on Jan. 22 of 2022.
FVSU has claimed wins in 23 of the last 34 matchups in the rivalry series.
Both teams come in off three losses in a row to the same Clark Atlanta, Allen and Benedict College teams.
Team Leaders:
ASU
Keyra Peterson – 11.4 ppg & 9.4 rpg
Na'Itaviya Paxton – 8.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 60 assists & 58 steals
FVSU
Aaniyah Allen – 10.7 ppg, 68 assists & 38 steals
Marley Bell – 8.2 rpg & 5.5 rpg
Kimora Wade – 8.0 rpg & 4.6 rpg
Men:
Albany State (16-9/13-5 SIAC East) vs. Fort Valley State (10-15/9-9 SIAC East)
3:30 p.m.
ASU took a 73-52 decision three weeks ago in Albany on Feb. 1 over FVSU in the season's first meeting. The two rivals, though, have split the last 10 contests, 5-5.
In fact, the rivalries has been even over the past 27 times they have faced each other. The Wildcats hold a 14-13 edge on the Golden Rams in those final scores.
Albany State has pulled out two close wins the last two years in the HPE Arena – 1/21/23: 69-66 & 2/17/24: 70-66. FVSU took the previous two home matchups by finals of 75-72 (2/15/20) and 67-63 (1/22/22).
FVSU heads into Saturday winners of 3 of its last 5 games despite falling 65-53 to Benedict on Tuesday night. ASU has won its last two contests with a 73-55 win over Allen, but it is 2-2 in the last two weeks of play.
Team Leaders:
ASU
Shakur Poteat – 17.8 ppg
Blaise Wallace – 12.7 ppg & 9.6 rpg
FVSU
Sayerr Senghore - .563 FG%, 12.3 ppg, 8.3 rpg & 29 blocks
Jaylen Jackson – 38 3FG, 11.5 ppg & 3.4 rpg
Hassane Diallo - .520 FG%, 9.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg & 34 blocks
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