Box Score Jalen Mitchell's 17 points led four in double-figures as No. 21 Clark Atlanta University Panthers defeated Fort Valley State University 70-63 Saturday at L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

The Panthers, 21-3 on the season, go to 15-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and remain just one game behind No. 11 Morehouse in the SIAC East.  After the final home game of the season at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 19 against Albany State, the Panthers visit Morehouse Thursday, Feb. 22 in the regular-season finale.

CAU clamped down defensively early, only allowing Fort Valley State to hit 28 percent of their shots in leading 32-25 at halftime.
The lead got into double-figures early in the second half, but Fort Valley State stormed back late, coming within four points.  But CAU pulled away late to get the win.

Mitchell hit 6-of-9 shots to led CAU with 17 points, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing an assist. Anthony Williams had 14 points, four assists, three rebounds and a steal, while both Akil Douglas and Shelvick Henry Jr. added 13 points.

"I thought early in the first half, we had a lot of open shots that we missed," said CAU Head Coach Darrell Walker. "I thought defensively we were pretty solid. When you give up 25 points in a half, I think you've done a pretty good job.  So that part I was happy with.  I wasn't happy with the offensive rebounds. We gave up 15 offensive rebounds, and we can't do that. We haven't done that in a long time.  I don't like the way we turned the basketball over.  I mean, our basketball IQ has to get better.

"But we played hard and buckled down in the second half," Walker said. "We really executed and were pretty solid in crunch time to come and get the win."