FORT VALLEY, Ga. – The Wildcats returned to their tough ways on Tuesday night at home. Sayerr Senghore sank the first of a pair of free throws with five seconds and Fort Valley State had enough to defeat Tuskegee University, 66-65, on the men's basketball hardwood.
Following a pair of Jaylen Jackson free throws to give him a team-high 24 points and FVSU a four-point lead with 2:14 left. Tuskegee made the first bucket and then the game's leading scorer Kevin Sesberry tied the contest for a sixth time in the second half, 65-65, with 38 ticks on the clock. The Wildcats took over and Senghore was fouled on the inside with five seconds remaining. The FVSU forward sank the first foul shot and Tuskegee rebound the second, but the visitors' game-winning attempt was no good in the final second.
FVSU (8-13) rose back above the .500 mark in the SIAC East at 7-6, while Tuskegee fell to (10-10) 8-6 in the SIAC West.
In the game, FVSU downed 9 of 22 from long-range, while Tuskegee missed all 10 of its 3-point attempts.
With his 24 points, Jackson made 8 of 16 field goals and 5 of 9 tries to go with five rebounds.
Hassane Diallo contributed 12 points, five boards and a pair of steals. Senghore hit one trey as part of his 11-point and 8-rebound effort. Marcus Scott chipped in eight points with a pair of triples and handed out four helpers.
Jahlen Jackson added six points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal. Khirus Doucet made his lone field goal, a 3-pointer, and both free throws for five points and had four assists. Antonio Pelham grabbed three caroms.
Trailing 8-4 after four minutes, the Golden Tigers ran off the ensuing 11 points for a then 15-8 lead. Down 21-18, the Wildcats reversed the momentum with a 9-point surge with a Jackson 3-pointer and two foul shots in the scoring and 27-21 edge. FVSU held a 28-23 lead with 2:16 left in the first half before the visitors netted the final four points for a 28-27 intermission score.
FVSU stays at home where it will host Clark Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 8, in a 3 p.m. contest.
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