Jalen Mitchell led five Panthers in double figures with 18 points as Clark Atlanta won their fourth consecutive game, defeating Benedict 87-73.

The win for Clark Atlanta (8-7, 5-3 SIAC) is their seventh in the last eight games.  The Panthers are in third place, just two games behind SIAC East leader Morehouse (who the Panthers host on Jan. 26^th) and a half game behind Albany State, who Clark Atlanta plays on Jan. 19. 

Benedict falls to 2-12, 1-7 in the SIAC.

The Panthers never trailed after jumping out fast, leading 21-9 eight minutes into the game after Colin Bell's layup.   Benedict briefly got the deficit under ten after Kelvin Omojola's basket made it 26-18 midway through the first half.

But that lead got extended to 21 after a 20-7 CAU run, capped by a Romaine Thomas 3-pointer, gave CAU their biggest lead of the game. 

Benedict chipped away at the lead again, getting it down to nine after Jalen Shuman's layup early in the second quarter cut Clark Atlanta's lead to 50-41.  But the Panthers continued their hot shooting and quickly got the lead back into double figures and kept control until the end.

Mitchell finished with 18 points – 14 in the second half – along with seven rebounds, six assists and a steal.  Thomas had his fourth double-double in the last five games with 17 points and 14 rebounds.  He has had double digit rebounds in each of the last five games.

Shelvick Henry, the SIAC's third-leading scorer heading into Saturday's game, had 14 points, four rebounds and a steal, while Austin Donaldson also had 14 points, along with three rebounds, four assists and a steal.  Ian Roach added ten points and five rebounds; Bell finished with six points an six boards; and Craig Hall added four points and five rebounds.

Romello Jones led Benedict with 24 points.

Clark Atlanta now heads to Augusta on Monday, Jan. 14^th to take on Paine College at 7:30 p.m.  The Panthers then return to L.S. Epps Gymnasium on Saturday, Jan. 19^th when they host Albany State at 4 p.m.   CAU then hosts Fort Valley State University on Jan. 21 at 8 p.m., followed by the huge SIAC East and Atlanta University Center rivalry game with Morehouse College at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26^th.

NOTE: The CAU men's game against Morehouse at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26^th will be preceded by the Clark Atlanta women's game against Carver College at 2 p.m.  Admission that day will be $15 general admission.