In their first game since an epic three-overtime thriller on Feb. 8, the No. 21 Clark Atlanta University Panthers host Fort Valley State University Saturday at 4 p.m. in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.
The Panthers, who fell just short against Morehouse 97-96 in a battle of two of the nation's top 16 teams, are only a game out of first place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's East Division with a 14-2 record, 7-2 in divisional play. Morehouse is in first place, with a 15-1 SIAC record, 8-1 in the East division.
CAU is looking for to get back on the winning side after losing their last two games, to Claflin and Morehouse. Before that, the Panthers had won 15 consecutive games. CAU defeated Fort Valley State on the road 77-66 on Jan. 15.
The Panthers still remain the only team in the conference that's in the top five in both scoring offense (2
nd with 81.3 points per game) and scoring defense (5
th in allowing teams 69.1 points per game).
Akil Douglas leads CAU with 13.5 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game.
Jamal Pollydore and
Shelvick Henry Jr. both average 11.4 points per game, while
Jalen Mitchell,
Damien Davis and
Anthony Williams are scoring around nine points per game.
Fort Valley State is 12-13 overall, 9-8 in conference play. But before losing to Albany State last weekend, FVSU three of four games including a victory over one of the top teams in the conference, Claflin. The Wildcats have four players averaging in double figures in scoring – Tyler Edwards (14.9 points per game), Jaylon McMillan (13.3 ppg), Walter Foster (11.9 ppg) and James Barnes (10.4 ppg).
