Clark Atlanta's quest for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division regular season title has come up just short as the Panthers fell in two overtimes to Fort Valley State 82-80 Tuesday.

The Panthers (12-15, 12-7 SIAC) had a chance to win the East Division crown Tuesday after Morehouse defeated Albany State 59-50.  The loss left Albany State with a 12-7 conference record.  A CAU win would have given the Panthers a better conference record by one game. 
CAU and Albany State end the regular season tied with 12-7 SIAC marks.  The East title would go to Albany State since they won both matchups with CAU this season.

Tuesday, Fort Valley State (7-20, 5-13 SIAC) trailed Clark Atlanta most of the first half.  Javonte Sterling's jumper with 6:01 left before halftime gave CAU a 29-21 lead.  But K'Viontae Williams' 3-pointer just before halftime capped an 11-2 FVSU run that put the Wildcats ahead 32-31.

The second half was just as close, with the game tied 63-63 after Shannon Smith's two free throws with 2:37 remaining in regulation.  Just over a minute later, Romaine Thomas added two more free throws to put CAU up 65-63.

Shawn Foxbrennen hit two free throws with 59 seconds left to tie the game again.  Smith missed a 3-pointer late and FVSU also misfired on a basket as the game went into overtime.

The lead continued to go back and forth in the first overtime, with Thomas hitting a jumper with 28 seconds remaining to put CAU up 73-71.  It proved to not be enough as Foxbrennen missed a jumper with four seconds left, but Jordon Brentoncliette grabbed the rebound and put the ball in the basket with one second left to put the game into a second overtime.

In the next overtime period, CAU got out to a four-point lead after Colin Bell hit a jumper early and then added two free throw with 3:23 remaining to make it 77-73.   Foxbrennen then countered with a basket for FVSU.  Smith missed a 3-pointer for CAU and Williams grabbed the rebound.  Bell fouled Williams, who converted two free throws with 1:54 left to tie the game at 77-77.

Williams then hit a jumper with 1:13 left to put FVSU up 79-77.  After a CAU turnover on their next possession, FVSU missed a 3-point try with 31 seconds left.  Smith put CAU back in front nine seconds later with a 3-pointer of his own, giving CAU an 80-79 advantage with 22 seconds left.

A Bell foul put Williams back on the free throw line with nine seconds left.  He hit one to tie the game again at 80-80 but missed the second.  Foxbrennen grabbed the rebound but was fouled by Thomas.  He hit what proved to be the game winning free throws to put FVSU up 82-80 with five seconds left.

Thomas led CAU with 20 points and 16 rebounds.  The 16 boards put Thomas over 500 rebounds – 505 – for his CAU career.  Smith also had 20 points, with five 3-pointers, along with six rebounds, four assists, a rebound and a block.  Tyler Singleton finished with 16 points, eight assists and five rebounds.  Bell added eight points and six rebounds.

FVSU was led by Williams' 28 points and 10 rebounds and Foxbrennen's 24 points and nine rebounds.

Pending official final standings posted by the SIAC on Friday, Clark Atlanta looks to be locked in as the second seed from the East in next week's SIAC Men's Basketball Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C.  If they are the second seed from the East, they would play the seventh seed from the West Division at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.