Jalen Mitchell led three players in double figures, but Lynn University slowed down Clark Atlanta University in the second half to defeat the Panthers 74-69 in the season-opener for both teams Friday in Boca Raton, Fla.
 
The Panthers (0-1),in their debut under new head coach George Lynch, led most of the game, opening up a 13-point lead in the first half after Ian Roach's 3-pointer made it 31-18 with 6:15 left before the break.
 
On defense, CAU only allowed Lynn (1-0) to score 28 first-half points.
 
Lynn shaved the lead down to six by halftime at 34-28.  CAU maintained that lead through the first part of the second-half after Romaine Thomas' dunk gave Clark Atlanta a 42-34 lead.
 
But Lynn slowly closed the gap and kept things close.  They grabbed their first lead since the beginning of the game when Rasheed Worrell hit a short jumper to put the Fighting Knights ahead 58-57 with 4:10 remaining.
 
CAU was in the midst of a scoring drought, not going nearly three minutes without a basket.  During that time, Lynn got a Jamal Palmer hit a layup and two free throws to go up by six, 63-57 with 3:04 left.
 
While Lynn extended that lead to eight points late, Mitchell hit a jumper and free throw with 16 seconds left to pull CAU to within three at 72-69.   But Lynn's Darius Moore hit two free throws late to put the game out of reach.
 
Mitchell led CAU with 20 points and had four rebounds, three blocks and an assist. Thomas had 14 points and a team-high eight rebounds and a block, while Henry, playing in his home state of Florida, finished with 14 points, six rebound and an assist.
 
Austin Donaldson, playing in his first game since a season-ending knee injury midway through last season,  scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds, dished out three assists and made a steal.  Roach had eight points, while Colin Bell had four points and five rebounds.
 
Palmer led four Lynn players in double figures with 20 points.
 
It's a quick turnaround for Clark Atlanta as they head to Miami Shores to take on Barry University – a team that made the NCAA Division II Elite Eight last season – today at 12:30.  The game will be streamed live at http://www.sunshinestateconference.tv/barry/?bfplayvid=91690.