The Clark Atlanta University Panthers will face one of their stiffer tests of the season when they host Benedict College today at 4 p.m. in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

The Panthers are 16-1 overall, 10-0 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  At 10-0, CAU is in a first-place tie with Claflin and Morehouse in SIAC East, with Benedict, 15-3 overall, just behind all three teams with an 8-2 conference record.

Benedict has won seven consecutive games, not losing since an overtime defeat to Nova Southeastern University on Dec. 13.  They lost consecutive conference games to Lane and Fort Valley State in late November.

Benedict has the SIAC's second-highest scoring offense (82 points per game), just a shade ahead of the third-best scoring team, Clark Atlanta. They also are the conference's top free throw and 3-point shooting team.  They are led by Brandon Morris (17.6 points, 9.1 points per game) and Dimitri Cook (14.2 points, 3.6 points per game).

But the Panthers have won 11 straight games, only losing to Alabama-Huntsville, the team that defeated CAU in the NCAA Division II tournament last season.

Sporting the nation's 38^th best scoring defense, the Panthers only allow 68 points per game. Only Claflin (62.3 ppg) is better in the SIAC.   And while Benedict has the SIAC's top 3-point shooting team, CAU has the conference's fourth-best 3-point shooting defense.

Four players average double-figures in scoring for CAU – Akil Douglas (13.4 points per game), Jamal Pollydore (11.2 ppg), Shelvick Henry Jr. (10.5 ppg) and Austin Donaldson (10.9 ppg).  Douglas also leads the team in rebounding with six per game, with Damien Davis just behind at 5.8 per game.  Guard Anthony Williams leads the team in assists, and leads the SIAC in assists-to-turnover ratio.

Today's game tips off at 4 p.m. at L.S. Epps Gymnasium.