Fort Valley State gave it their all to spoil Savannah State's senior night in a basketball doubleheader. The Wildcats clinched a close win in the men's game but stumbled in the clash between the Lady Tigers and Lady Wildcats.

Lady Tigers vs. Lady Wildcats

Amari Heard scored an impressive 16 points, Nyla Allen had 15 points and Jashiyah Jones finished with 14 points and the Savannah State Tigers defeated the Fort Valley State Wildcats on senior night 68-51 in Tiger Arena.

Savannah State would have eight players Mya Byrd, Jashiyah Jones, Jasmine Wills, Jacquece Alston, Diamond McGilberry, Nyla Allen, Amari Heard, and Ta’Quasia Lampkin all play their final regular season collegiate basketball game on Monday night.

Fort Valley State would kick things off bringing the defensive intensity making Savannah State work for every opportunity on the offensive end forcing five SSU turnovers. The Wildcats were the Number 1 defense in the SIAC conference allowing 55.2 ppg and certainly showed it but on the offensive end is where FVSU was remarkable in the quarter.

Coming into this matchup Fort Valley held the 13th-ranked offense averaging 58 ppg and the 7th-ranked field goal percentage as a team. FVSU would hold a 21-12 advantage with under 2:00 left to go and was shooting a stunning 68% from the field. However, Savannah State would not lie down, baskets from Jashiyah Jones and Amari Heard helped take the Tigers into the second quarter down by 2 points 21-19.

As the second quarter was underway, Fort Valley's shooting streak was not as hot as it was in the 1st quarter shooting 26% from the field in the second. Savannah State on the end could never get over the hump, the second quarter would be a nip and tuck between both teams it consisted of seven ties and good defense. Savannah State would take the 2nd quarter lead 36-35 after sophomore Aaliyah Carlock knocked down ½ free throws to end the quarter.

Savannah State opened the third quarter with 9 points unanswered to expand their lead to 44-35. SSU seemingly took control of the third quarter allowing 4 points from Fort Valley. The Tigers would score 12 points in the third quarter, with scores from Amari Heard, Jacquece Alston, Nyla Allen, and Amani Hamilton assisting in creating for SSU to go into the fourth quarter with a 39-48 advantage.

Senior Jashiyah Jones would kick things off for SSU with back-to-back three-pointers expanding Savannah State's lead by 15 (54-39). Amari Heard would go 2 for 2 from the free throw line giving Savannah State a 17-point lead its largest lead of the night (56-39) 8:17 remaining.

Fort Valley would answer with a 12-3 response cutting the deficit to 10 points 49-59 with 2:51 left. Savannah State would close the deal on the Fort Valley State comeback, jump shots from Nyla Allen, and Amani Hamilton and a layup from Ja’Siiyah Holmes helped wrap up a Savannah State victory 51-68.

Fort Valley State entered this matchup after defeating Albany State University and Edward Waters University. With this loss, Fort Valley enters the SIAC tournament on a one-game skid. The Wildcats' leading scorer was graduate student Ayani Cockrell with 17 points and senior Shekinah Rachel with a double-double of 10 points 12 rebounds and 5 steals.

With this loss (14-10) Fort Valley State Wildcats earned the number 2 seed in the Eastern Division and received a bye week in the first two rounds. The Wildcats matchup is scheduled for March 5th at 2:30 P.M. in Savannah, Ga at Tiger Arena.

After this win the (19-5) Savannah State Tigers will enter the SIAC tournament as the top seed in the Eastern Division. SSU’s matchup is set to take place on March 4th at noon in Savannah, Ga at Tiger Arena and will face the winner of Tuskegee and Allen University.

The SIAC tournament is set to start on Sunday, March 3rd at 4 P.M. and will be streamed on ESPN+.

Tigers vs. Wildcats


Myson Lowe scores 14 points and the (7-20) Fort Valley State Wildcats spoil the (12-13) Savannah State Tigers on a senior night defeating them 72-69 in overtime.

Junior Kevan Eskridge scored well off the bench scoring 13 points and 4 assists. Senior Pierre Mitchell notched 12 points in 17 minutes of play.

Myson Lowe and Joe Williams scored 8 points total in overtime, helping the Fort Valley State Wildcats enter the SIAC tournament looking to build on two victories in a row.

Fort Valley State gave the Savannah State Tigers all they could handle in the first quarter as the Wildcats never trailed. Senior Pierre Mitchell was the Wildcats leading scorer in the 1st half scoring 9 points total. Pierre was on display early in the half as Fort Valley jumped out to a 10-4 lead.

Savannah State would tie the game up at 11 with 11:03 left to go but FVSU quickly made due of that. Guards Myson Lowe, Pierre Mitchell, Kenton Eskridge, and Davorian Rudolph of Fort Valley were the contributors of a 15-10 run going into halftime with the Wildcats leading 26-21.

The second half would be an offensive highlight show, as points were at a premium in this half. SSU would score 43 points total, and FVSU would score 38. The two heavy-weight teams would go pound for pound and blow for blow as neither team wanted to relinquish their respective winning streak. Savannah State would take its first lead (41-40) with 11:47 to go.

As the game got to crunch time Fort Valley State held a 7-point lead (63-56) at 2:45 remaining, Savannah State would score five points unanswered to trim the FVSU lead to just two 61-63 at the 1:04 mark. Fort Valley would still have a chance to shut down the SSU comeback after 85% free throw shooter Myson Lowe was sent to the line shooting two free throws to ice the game with 17 seconds left.

Lowe would go one of two from the line leaving the door open (61-64) for SSU to send the game into overtime. Savannah State would have four seconds left for an opportunity to send the game into OT. Freshman Michael Swift received the inbound and nailed a three-pointer sending the game into overtime.

The Overtime period would begin with poor shooting from both teams. Savannah State would only shoot 1 of 6 from the field, and SSU would score 5 points in overtime. Michael Swift was the leading scorer for the Tigers with 4 points. On the other side, FVSU shot 2 for 8 as a team. Joe Williams was the Wildcats' leading scorer with 5 points, and Myson Lowe added 3 points and the game-sealing steal. Fort Valley State defeated Savannah State in ot 72-69.

For the first time since February 10, Savannah State did not crack the 70-point total. Junior Ajay Plain was tied with freshman Jordan Mikel for SSU's leading scorer with 14 points. Sophomore Javonte Landy added 11 points, and sophomore Chancellor Wilson finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds.

Savannah State will enter the SIAC tournament as the 5th seed in the Eastern Division. Their matchup will be against the 4th seeded Western Division Kentucky State Thorobreds on March 5th in Savannah, GA at Tiger Arena at 2:30 P.M.

The 7th-seeded Eastern Division Fort Valley State Wildcats will face off against the 6th-seeded West Division LeMoyne-Owen College in the SIAC tournament. Their duel will take place on March 4th at Tiger Arena in Savannah, GA at 2:30 P.M.

The SIAC tournament is set to start on Sunday, March 3rd at 4 P.M. and will be streamed on ESPN+.