Box Score Edwards scores season high 33 in CSU victory over Fort Valley State

 
FORT VALLEY, Georgia – Tre' Edwards shouldered the scoring load on Monday night as Central State earned a crucial conference win, 86-81, over Fort Valley State.


The game did not start the way CSU coach Joseph Price had envisioned as FVSU scored the first 10 points of the game. CSU came storming back behind Edwards. The senior guard from Racine, Wisconsin scored 17 first half points to erase the FVSU lead and give his team a 43-38 lead at half.


Edwards continued his hot hand early in the second half, hitting back-to-back 3 pointers as CSU led 49-43 with 17:56 to go. FVSU's Marcelis Hansberry answered with two three pointers of his own to even the score, 49-49. Edwards and Hansberry exchanged three point shots once more as the teams remained deadlocked, 52-52, with 16:34 to go. Seconds later, Dareial Franklin's dunk put the Wildcats up 54-52. Edwards answered once more with his eighth make from beyond the arc as CSU regained the narrow lead.

"Tre' probably played his best game in a Marauder uniform tonight," said CSU Head Coach Joseph Price. "FVSU is a gritty team and responded with some solid shooting of their own. Fortunately for us, we had other guys step up to help us earn a solid road win down the stretch."


Neither team gained much separation from the other as each traded baskets over the next 10 minutes. With the score tied 68-68, CSU went on a 6-0 run with baskets from Robert Konteh and Hosie Smith Jr to go up 74-68 with 5 minutes left. The Marauders were able to hang on for the victory down the stretch as Akil Cornish converted on a crucial mid-range jumper and two free throws in the final minute to help his team secure the win.

"Akil was superb for us off the bench tonight," Price said. "He has really been patient and working hard in practice so it is great to see him have a break out game and make an impact when we needed it most."


CSU enjoyed its best performance of the season from the three point line, hitting 11 of 28 from beyond the arc. The Marauders were also 21 of 28 from the free throw line and held a 23-7 edge in second chance points.


Edwards finished with a season high 33 points to go with a game high 5 steals. Cornish finished with 14 points and Tom Johnson chipped in with 11 off the CSU bench. Konteh finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds as CSU improved to 3-5 overall and 3-2 in the SIAC standings. With tonight's win, the Marauders concluded their two-game Georgia road trip with a 2-0 record.


"We had to get these two wins as they were crucial for us to get back in the mix in the conference standings," Price said. "We are now turning our focus to protecting our home floor this week with big games against Clark-Atlanta and Morehouse."


Franklin led FVSU with 23 points, converting on 8 of his 9 field goal attempts. With the loss, the Wildcats dropped to 2-12 on the year and are now 0-4 in the SIAC.


Central State returns home to host Clark-Atlanta (2-9; 0-2) on Thursday at 7:30 pm. Admission to Thursday's game is free to all spectators. 



Fans can follow the game via the following links:

Radio - http://www.gemcitysports.com/radio-1/

Video - http://maraudersports.com/watch/?Live=17
 
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/centralstate/mbball/

 
 

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