Wildcats Manhandled by Panthers
By: FVSU Office of Sports Information
After losing their last three games, the Wildcats of Fort Valley State University (FVSU) were badly in need of a spark to re-ignite their basketball season. Saturday night’s match up with the number one ranked team in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) provided the potential fuel to rekindle that flame. After all, the conference leading Panthers of Clark Atlanta University had just sustained a highly emotional loss to its cross-campus nemesis the Tigers of Morehouse College on Thursday night. The possibility that the Panthers could enter the HPE Complex emotionally drained and unfocused coupled with the Wildcats’ desire to break the three-game skid brought all the combustible elements together that could lead to a positive Wildcat explosion.
Leading by as many as 15 points with just over four minutes left in the first half, it appeared that the Panthers had fully rebounded from the loss on Thursday night and would cruise to an easy win over the Wildcats. However, by taking advantage of the fuel provided by a noisy and partisan Wildcat crowd, FVSU utilized the last four minutes to make one of its most impressive runs of the season to cut the deficit to just four points at the halftime. Now solidly back into the game, the question that loomed in the HPE Arena was whether the Wildcats could carry that fire into the game’s final 20 minutes.
The answer was quickly revealed when the first four minutes of the second half expired without a Wildcat basket. Add to that that fact that the Wildcats were only able to add another 18 points to their halftime total and it was clear that the fuel tank that was needed to beat the number one ranked Panthers was empty. With a 40 point second half performance, the Panthers won handily 74-48.
Steven Gill led FVSU in scoring with 12 points. He also finished with six rebounds and one steal. Senior Darrell Aiken contributed 10 points and five rebounds. The Panthers were led in scoring by David Brown who had a game-high 25 points.
The Wildcats are now 6-12 overall and 4-10 in conference play and return to action on Tuesday night in the HPE Arena when they host the Maroon Tigers of Morehouse College. With no Lady Wildcat game scheduled on Tuesday, tip off for the Wildcats and Maroon Tigers is 7:30 p.m.
Ticket prices for Wildcats Basketball are $7 general admission; $5 for military personnel with identification; free for children under the age of 10 years; and free for FVSU students with identification.
To view the box score for this game and for more information about Wildcats Basketball, please visit www.fvsusports.com.
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