Atlanta, Ga.--With a valiant effort down the stretch, the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University downed Morehouse College 65-62 at Forbes Arena in the first of two Atlanta University Center (AUC) battles on the hardwood today and moved to second place in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) East Division.
After a quick start and clinging to a four-poinot advantage for most of the first period, the Panthers went cold from the floor as Morehouse scrambled to a 38-29 lead at the 1:00 mark. The Tigers managed a 38-31 cushion at the half behind Darrius Williams' 16 points to lead all scorers in the first period.
In a game of runs, the Panthers (10-7, SIAC 6-3) mounted an 8 to 1 run to open the second period that knotted the game at 39 with 13:28 remaining. After exchanging baskets, Clark Atlanta mustered a five-point advantage (54-49) with five minutes remaining led by senior Jarrel Joye who knocked down one of his three 3-ptr field goals during this stretch.
The Panthers quickly saw their lead diminish as Williams carried the Maroon Tigers with 7 of his game-high 29 points to give Morehouse a 58-57 lead with 2:28 remaining. With the score remaining the same for the next minute, CAU's Derek Harper, who gave the Panthers a great spark off the bench, put up a lay-up that pushed them ahead 59-58. With two more lead changes down the stretch, the Panthers pulled away with clutch shooting from the free throw line and agressive, pressure defense.
"The team came together after trailing at the half, and they gave it all they had," said CAU Interim Head Coach Tony Lamarr. "This is a great victory for the players, team and university, and beating our rival is always a great feeling."
Joye finished 3-for-4 from the behind arc to led the Panthers with 19 points, followed by Earl Lawrence with 11 and Jordan Husley who added 10 points. Morehouse (5-13, SIAC 2-8) topped the Panthers on the boards 45 to 32 while CAU outscored the Maroon Tigers by 10 points in the final period.
Next, Clark Atlanta will travel to face top-ranked Fort Valley State University Monday, Feb. 3, at 7:30 p.m., before hosting Claflin University Thursday, Feb. 6, at 8 p.m., in Epps Gymnasium.
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