ATLANTA, GA | Morehouse kept its momentum surging Wednesday night at Forbes Arena, pulling away down the stretch for a 68-58 win over Fort Valley State. With the victory, the Maroon Tigers improved to 7-3 in their last 10 games, extended their streak to five straight wins, and stayed perfect in division play at 6-0 in the SIAC East, holding firm in first place in the division standings.
First Half
The game had an early back-and-forth feel, with Fort Valley State attacking the paint and living at the free throw line, while Morehouse settled in behind energy plays and timely shooting.
After trading small advantages over the first several minutes, JerMontae Hill helped Morehouse stabilize the offense with strong takes and tough finishes. The Maroon Tigers then found their rhythm from the perimeter—Josiah Lawson knocked down a three to even the score, then later buried another to help Morehouse seize control.
From there, Morehouse made its first real push of the night. A three from Sincere Key sparked a burst that turned a one-possession game into a comfortable cushion. Hill continued to pressure the Wildcats defense, converting around the rim and earning trips to the line as the Maroon Tigers built their lead with steady, physical basketball.
Fort Valley State briefly trimmed the gap midway through the half, cutting the lead down to two, but Morehouse responded with one of its most decisive stretches of the game. Tony Hicks drilled a three, and Hill followed with a string of free throws and a strong finish to push the margin back to double digits.
By halftime, Morehouse had the game under control, taking a 37-29 lead into the break.
Second Half
Fort Valley State opened the second half with urgency, using free throws and a couple of timely baskets to chip away and make things interesting. But every time the Wildcats threatened, the Maroon Tigers answered with poise.
Sincere Moore delivered key buckets early in the half—finishing inside to keep Morehouse in front—while the Wildcats used a three-pointer to pull within striking distance. Morehouse immediately countered with a big response from the bench as Omar Farah knocked down a three, pushing the lead back out and swinging the momentum right back to the home side.
The Wildcats continued to hang around with perimeter shooting, but Farah hit another three and followed with a finish at the rim to maintain breathing room. Morehouse's defensive pressure also played a major role, forcing rushed possessions and turning mistakes into points—especially in transition.
The biggest moment came in the final four minutes. Fort Valley State trimmed the lead to 59-55, but Morehouse responded with a clutch three from Jared White to quiet the rally. White added another late triple, and the Maroon Tigers sealed the game at the free throw line to close out the 68-58 win.
Team Comparison
- Field Goals: Morehouse 23-56 (41.1%) | Fort Valley State 20-53 (37.7%)
- 3-Pointers: Morehouse 10-28 (35.7%) | Fort Valley State 6-22 (27.3%)
- Free Throws: Morehouse 12-18 (66.7%) | Fort Valley State 12-22 (54.5%)
- Rebounds: Fort Valley State 42 | Morehouse 33
- Assists: Morehouse 12 | Fort Valley State 8
- Turnovers: Fort Valley State 20 | Morehouse 19
- Points Off Turnovers: Morehouse 30 | Fort Valley State 8
- Bench Points: Morehouse 41 | Fort Valley State 12
- Fast Break Points: Morehouse 21 | Fort Valley State 14
- Points in the Paint: 22-22
- Second-Chance Points: Fort Valley State 11 | Morehouse 4
- Steals: Morehouse 11 | Fort Valley State 9
Statistical Leaders
Morehouse continues to look like one of the hottest teams in the conference, stacking wins with defensive pressure, balanced scoring, and a bench unit that keeps swinging games in their favor. The Maroon Tigers remain in first place in the SIAC East, but the standings get real on Saturday—Clark Atlanta sits right behind them in second place, and the winner of the Battle of the AUC will walk away owning first place in the division. Tipoff is set for 3:00 PM inside Epps Gymnasium, with Morehouse looking to keep its streak alive and tighten its grip on the East.
