ATLANTA, Ga. - Clark Atlanta men's basketball withstood a late rally from Benedict to pick up 71-65 home victory. CAU never trailed and had the lead cut to just two points late in the second half to pick up the tenth home victory.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Score: Clark Atlanta 71; Benedict 65                   
Record: Clark Atlanta (16-11; 10-5 SIAC); Benedict (14-11; 11-5 SIAC)    
Date: Feb. 18, 2017 | Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: L.S. Epps Gymnasium | Atlanta, Ga.
Previous Matchup: Clark Atlanta lost in overtime at Benedict on Jan. 28; 79-78

HOW IT HAPPENED:
First Half | Tim Sanders opened the game with a layup after the steal near midcourt by Lawrance Triplett. CAU opened the game on a 7-0 run with a jumper from Tajai Johnson and a 3-pointer from Anthony Williams. Williams added another 3 to give the Panthers an eight-point lead; 10-2. After a 5-0 run for Benedict cut the Clark Atlanta lead to three points, Sanders was good on a 3 to beat the shot clock with 9:55 to play in the half. Damien Davis and Johnson connected on layups on back-to-back possessions and Johnson capped another 4-0 spurt for CAU as the Panthers led by nine with 5:39 to play and went into the intermission leading by ten; 37-27.
 
Clark Atlanta shot 15-for-29 (51.7 percent) from the floor in the first half while going 3-for-6 from the FT line. CAU shot 4-for-11 from 3-point range and led the battle in rebounds; 19-15.

Second Half | Davis scored on a turn-around jumper off the glass to open the second half scoring. Davis scored again two minutes later for the CAU advantage; 41-27. The Panther lead was trimmed to eight as Benedict went on an 8-2 run  with 7:33 remaining to play in the game. The lead was cut even shorter a Benedict used a 7-0 run to trail by just three points; 58-55. After Benedict cut the who to two points Johnson was good on a jumper with 1:22 left to keep the lead at four points; 64-60. A CAU turnover led to a Benedict dunk with 36 remaining and the Panthers leading; 67-65. Triplett made both from the FT line with 15 seconds to play to secure the victory. Sanders later added a pair from the FT line with five seconds left in the game.

TEAM NUMBERS:
Clark Atlanta shot 28-for-57 (49.1 percent) from the floor and went 8-for-13 from the FT line. CAU added six made shots from behind the 3-point arc.
 
The Panthers led the game in assists, 14-10, points off turnovers, 11-9, and forced Benedict into 14 turnovers.

INDIVIDUAL NUMBERS:
Triplett recorded his eighth double-double of the season with a game-high 14 rebounds to go with 18 points.
 
Johnson led all scorers with 20 points as CAU got all the scoring from just five players. Davis added 15 points and Sanders scored 10 along with eight from Williams.
 
Williams tied for the game-high with four assists.

UP NEXT:
Clark Atlanta will play twice more from L.S. Epps Gymnasium to close the season with games versus Claflin and Miles on Feb. 20 and 23.