BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Clark Atlanta men's basketball lost the opening-game of the SIAC Championship to Tuskegee, 76-66, despite leading by 16 points in the second half.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Tuskegee 76, Clark Atlanta 66
Record: Tuskegee (14-12; 9-9 SIAC), Clark Atlanta (9-20; 7-12 SIAC)
Date: Feb. 29, 2016 | Time: 9:45 p.m.
Location: Bill Harris Arena | Birmingham, Ala.  | Attendance: 442

HOW IT HAPPENED:
Damien Enoch got the Panthers on the board to tie the game, 2-2, with 18:19 left in the first half.
 
Clark Atlanta took the lead during a 9-0 run, 12-10, in which Derek Harper scored seven-consecutive points.
 
CAU moved ahead, 26-20, thanks to a 12-2 run with 7:25 remaining before halftime. Harper opened the run with a 3-pointer, Enoch scored the next six points before Tim Sanders drove in on the layup and Enoch was good with one from the FT line.
 
The Panthers led at halftime, 42-30, in large part thanks to shooting 58.6 percent (17-for-29) from the floor and holding the 21-17 rebounding advantage. CAU closed the half on a 16-7 run in the final 6:45.
 
Lawrance Freeman opened the CAU scoring in the second half with a 3-pointer off the Harper assist. Harper followed with a three-point play after making the layup and FT attempt with 17:21 remaining in the game to give CAU the 32-48 lead.
 
Tuskegee used a 10-0 run to pull within six points, 48-42, with 14:27 left in the second half.
 
After Freeman hit another 3 Tuskegee pulled within one point, 55-54, after a 12-2 run over four minutes.
 
Tuskegee took the 59-58 lead, the first deficit Clark Atlanta faced since 18-17, with 5:40 remaining in the game.
 
Sanders made two from the FT line to move the Panthers back in front, 60-59. Sanders tied the game later with a 3-pointer, 63-63, with 4:01 remaining.

Tuskegee responded with a 8-0 run to take the lead for good, 71-63, and ended the game on a 6-0 run.

THE NUMBERS:
Clark Atlanta shot 41.7 percent (25-for-60) for the game from the floor while going 12-for-18 from the FT line. CAU shot just 25.8 percent from the floor in the second half.
 
CAU outscored TU 40-38 on points in the paint. The Panthers trailed 19-7 on points off turnovers, 11-9 in second chance points, and 15-12 on scoring from the bench.
 
Enoch registered a double-double with team-highs with 17 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Sanders scored 15 and Harper scored 14 as the other players to reach double-digit point totals.

UP NEXT:
Clark Atlanta concluded the 2015-2016 season with the loss.