FORT VALLEY, Ga. - Clark Atlanta men's basketball went to overtime for the fifth time this season on the road at Fort Valley State and came away on the short side of a 85-79 score. In five overtime games this season, Clark Atlanta now has a 2-3 record.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Fort Valley State 85; Clark Atlanta 79       
Record: Fort Valley State (12-11; 9-4 SIAC); Clark Atlanta (14-10; 8-4 SIAC)      
Date: Feb. 9, 2017 | Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: HPE Complex | Fort Valley, Ga.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Half | Tim Sanders scored the first five points for CAU followed by a Lawrance Triplett 3-pointer as Clark Atlanta opened up with an 8-4 advantage. Fort Valley responded with a 7-0 run before Tajai Johnson tied the game with a 3-pointer; 11-11. Anthony Williams completed the three-point play as he made the FT after being fouled on a layup moving CAU ahead; 14-13. CAU again retook the lead after a layup from Derek Harper and Williams making a pair from the FT line as the Panthers were ahead with 10:11 to play in the first half; 19-17. FVSU used a 12-2 run to take an eight-point lead; 29-21. The first half closed with Clark Atlanta scoring the final five points as Williams was again good on a pair from the FT line while Sanders connected on another 3-pointer as the half expired. CAU trailed 33-29.
 
Clark Atlanta shot 7-for-26 (26.9 percent) from the floor and 11-for-13 from the FT line. The Panthers were good on 4-of-13 from behind the arc. CAU trailed the rebounding battle; 22-18.
 
Second Half | Sanders opened the second half with a 3 to bring CAU within one point. An 8-2 FVSU run was followed with CAU taking the lead as Sanders went 2-for-2 from the FT line ending a CAU 8-0 run; 42-41. FVSU regained control with a 15-6 run to lead the game with 9:36 remaining; 56-48. A 3 from Harper, a jumper from Sanders, and four made from the FT line had CAU within one point with 4:33 to play; 58-57. CAU was within two points, 62-60, after Williams was good on a 3-pointer with 68 seconds remaining. Harper connected was good on a 3 with nine seconds to play tying the game; 65-65. FVSU was no good on a last second 3 sending the game to overtime.
 
Overtime | Overtime saw Sanders score the first four points for the Panthers before the Wildcats used a 6-0 run to take the 75-69 advantage. Harper added a 3-pointer to bring CAU within three points; 75-72. Fort Valley went on a 6-0 run with the final four points coming from the FT line before Triplett went 2-for-2 from the line bringing CAU within seven points with 54 seconds to play; 81-74. A late 3 from Sanders and jumper from Triplett capped the Panther points as CAU was outscored in the OT session; 20-14.

TEAM NUMBERS:
Clark Atlanta shot 24-for-63 (38.1 percent) from the floor and 21-for-24 (87.5 percent) from the FT line. CAU added 10-for-29 (34.5 percent) from 3-point range.
 
The Panthers had the advantages in steals, 13-8, but trailed in bench scoring, 23-13, points off turnovers, 23-13, points in the paint, 36-14, second chance scoring, 12-6, and overall rebounds, 51-31.

INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS:
Four Panthers scored in double digits behind the game-high 26 points from Sanders followed by Williams (22), Triplett(15) and Harper (11).
 
Chuka Eneh had the team-high six rebounds off the bench while Harper led the team in assists (six) and Williams had the game-high in steals (four).

UP NEXT:
Clark Atlanta heads to Morehouse on Feb. 13 and Paine on Feb. 16 before three final home games to end the season from L.S. Epps Gymnasium versus Benedict, Claflin and Miles.