ATLANTA, Ga.- Fort Valley State University Men's Basketball (12-10, 11-10 SIAC) fell just short in a 67–54 loss to Clark Atlanta University (18-6, 15-5 SIAC) Wednesday evening.

The Wildcats answered Clark Atlanta's opening basket as CJ Williams sank a three assisted by Danny Delgardo III to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. Derek Delgardo Jr. added a jumper to extend the margin to 5–2, but Clark Atlanta responded with a layup bringing them back into one point game. After a back and forth rally between the two, Williams drains another three-pointer bringing the Wildcats up 11-10 and teammate Meka Nnaji extends the lead by two with a good layup. While the Panthers held the Wildcats to a one point deficit, Prince Davies makes a layup in the paint and a tip in from Aiden Lambert puts the Wildcats back in front 17-14.

Over the next several minutes, the Wildcats and the Panthers rally for the lead and eventually going into halftime all tied at 35-35.

In the second half, Clark Atlanta opened with a defensive rebound and a basket, but a tip in by Delgardo III brings the Wildcats within three followed by Tim James' three-pointer tying the game 40-40. Davies follows suit with a good layup in the paint, but the Panthers answer back making the score 42-42. A jumper from Delgardo Jr ended the eight-point run Clark Atlanta had, making the score 50-44. Delgardo III made a three-pointer, bringing the score to 58-49, but it wasn't enough to keep the Panthers from taking home the win closing the second half with a score of 67-54.

Davies led the Wildcats with 14 points, going 5-for-9 from the floor and 3-for-6 from free throw line. Lambert added 11 points, including 5-for-12 on the floor, 1-for-3 from the free throw line and leading the Wildcats with 9 rebounds.
 
Fort Valley State returns to action Thursday, February 19, on the road to Lane College at 7:30 p.m. CT.