ATLANTA, Ga. - Clark Atlanta men's basketball led the game for more than 29 minutes but a second half rally from Kentucky State saw the visiting team pick up the road victory, 98-92. CAU received a career-high 31 points from Lawrance Triplett in the effort as he also notched his fifth double-double this season.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Kentucky State 98; Clark Atlanta 92
Record: Kentucky State (5-9; 4-3 SIAC); Clark Atlanta (9-6; 3-2 SIAC)
Date: Jan. 7, 2017 | Time: 4:00 p.m.
Location: L.S. Epps Gymnasium | Atlanta, Ga.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Half | Clark Atlanta opened the game with a 3-pointer form Anthony Williams for the first points of the game and held the lead throughout the remainder of the first half. CAU pushed the early advantage to 11 points after a 7-0 run with 15:17 remaining in the half after Tajai Johnson scored on a jumper off the assist from Tim Sanders. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Sanders and Williams gave the Panthers the largest lead of the opening half, 25-10, with 13:06 remaining. The half ended as Johnson missed a 3-pointer but Derek Harper was able to tip in the loose ball at the buzzer giving the Panthers the 52-44 lead at the intermission.
 
The 52 points in the first half surpassed the previous high of 49 points in the first half versus Florida Tech on Nov. 12.
 
Second Half | Johnson connected on a jumper to put Clark Atlanta ahead 63-52 with 16:20 before Kentucky State took the lead for the first time in the game during a 19-6 run - including 13 unanswered - with the score after the run favoring KSU 71-67. Clark Atlanta took the lead back on a 3-pointer from Sanders, 72-71. Lawrance Triplett added a layup and FT ahead of a 3-pointer to bring the lead back to four points for CAU, 80-76. KSU retook the lead, 82-81, after a 3-pointer during a 14-2 run by the Thorobreds that ended with the score 92-85 with 1:25 remaining.
 
Late baskets from Johnson and Damien Davis pulled the Panthers within four points, 92-88, and the deficit remained four points after Triplett went 2-for-2 from the FT line with 28 seconds to play. KSU missed a fast break opportunity and Harper was able to pull the Panthers within a pair of points, 94-92, after making a pair of shots from the FT line. KSU cemented the game with four made FT attempts in the final eight seconds of the game.

TEAM NUMBERS:
Clark Atlanta shot 33-for-78 (42.3 percent) from the floor and 16-for-22 (72.7 percent) from the FT line.
 
Clark Atlanta held the advantage in bench scoring, 11-6, and second chance scoring, 27-7, as the Panthers had 23 offensive rebounds in the game.
 
CAU forced KSU into 10 turnovers that became 13 points.
 
The Panthers posted new season highs in points (92), made baskets (33) and assists (22).

INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS:
Five Panthers scored in double figures as Triplett scored a team-high 31 points followed by Sanders (15), Davis (14), Johnson (12) and Harper (11 - accounting for all the points off the CAU bench).
 
Triplett eclipsed his career-high in points set Jan. 16, 2016 versus Albany State (26 points). He also pulled in a game-high 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season with four coming in the most recent six games played.
 
Sanders and Davis led the team with six assists apiece while Harper had two steals.

UP NEXT:
Clark Atlanta will play Albany State twice in-a-row with the game at ASU coming up on Jan. 9 and the home game from L.S. Epps Gymnasium being played Jan. 19 at 8:00 p.m.