ATLANTA, Ga. - The Clark Atlanta men's basketball saw the two-game win streak come to an end with a 101-96 home loss to Livingstone College in overtime. The game is the first game for CAU to go to overtime in the final time out to end 2015.
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:Score: Livingstone 101, Clark Atlanta 96
Record: Livingstone 5-6, Clark Atlanta 2-8
Date: Dec. 20, 2015 | Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Epps Gymnasium | Atlanta, Ga. | Attendance: 479
HOW IT HAPPENED:Clark Atlanta shot just 34.3 percent (12-for-35) from the floor in the opening 20 minutes to trail by ten points, 38-28. Livingstone was none better, shooting 39.4 percent (13-for-33). The deficit was found with LC going 9-for-12 from the FT line while CAU was only 2-for-2.
The Panthers trailed by as many as 15 points in the second half with 11:44 remaining, 58-43.
Clark Atlanta went on a 9-0 run to draw within six points, 58-52, with 10:02 to play. During the run,
Tim Sanders scored five-consecutive points.
CAU trailed by nine points, 71-62, with 5:15 on the clock before taking the lead, 75-72, with 2:19 remaining utilizing a 13-1 run.
During the run, Sanders broke up a pass with
James Arnold grabbing the loose ball and driving for the fast break layup. Clark Atlanta had not led since leading 16-14 with 10:51 left before halftime.
Each team built three point leads, first CAU and then LC.
Trailing by three points with 17 seconds remaining, 80-77, Arnold got off a 3-point attempt that was missed.
Lawrance Freeman grabbed the offensive rebound and dribbled behind the 3-point line and got off the buzzer-beating attempt that was good sending the game to five more minutes.
Clark Atlanta trailed during the entire overtime period. LC was 11-for-15 from the FT line and scored 21 points in the five bonus minutes. The Panthers were 5-for-14 from the floor, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, while adding 3-for-4 from the FT line in OT. Livingstone was 5-for-5 from the floor.
THE NUMBERS:Six Panthers reached double-digit point totals led by Sanders scoring 22 on 9-for-19 shooting. The four other starters all reached double-digits;
Damien Enoch (16), Arnold (14),
Chuka Eneh (11), and Freeman (11).
Derek Harper scored 18 off the bench on 6-for-12, including 6-for-6 from the FT line.
Sanders and Harper each registered season-highs in points.
Enoch added a game-best 12 rebounds to tally his second double-double of the season; he previously accomplished the feat on Nov. 13 at Florida Tech (23 points, 14 rebounds).
Sanders led the Panthers in assists (four) and steals (three).
Clark Atlanta forced 12 Livingstone turnovers and converted those opportunities into 13 points.
CAU held a 19-10 advantage in second chance points thanks to 18 offensive rebounds.
The Panthers outscored the Blue Bears 32-18 in the paint and 12-10 on fast break opportunities.
UP NEXT:Clark Atlanta is done for the month of Dec. and will return to play again on Jan. 2 and Jan. 4 in Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play versus Lane and LeMoyne-Owen in home games from Epps Gymnasium.
