Romaine Thomas and Austin Donaldson both score 15 as the Clark Atlanta Panthers defeated Spring Hill on New Year's Eve, 64-60 in L.S. Epps Gymnasium Monday.

The win is the fourth in the past five games for CAU (5-7, 2-3 SIAC) while Spring Hill falls to 5-7, 1-2 in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

In a game that was tight throughout, Clark Atlanta twice led by as many as six points in the first half, the second time after Shelvick Henry's jumper gave the Panthers a 16-10 lead with 12:05 remaining before the break.  Spring Hill pulled things closer, taking a quick lead on Christian Brandt's jumper late in the half and then tying it on Jeffery Pharr's layup with 2:23 before halftime made it 25-25.  Spring Hill had a scoring spurt to finish the half, outscoring CAU 9-4 to take a 34-29 lead into the locker room.

Brandt's layup two minutes into the second half extended Spring Hill's lead to seven – 38-31. That was the largest lead either team would have the rest of the game.  Ian Roach hit a 3-pointer and a layup during a CAU spurt that saw the Panthers lead – 46-45 with 11 minutes remaining – after Thomas' layup.

Spring Hill took their final lead when Quinn Sutton hit two free throws to go up 55-54 with 2:02 left. Thomas put CAU back in front with a free throw and a tip in made it 57-55 with just over a minute remaining.  The Badgers tied it again on Brandon Fischer's jumper a few seconds later.  But Thomas again got a basket, this one with 25 seconds left to put CAU up 59-57. Austin Donaldson then got a steal and a layup, followed by two free throws to seal the win for Clark Atlanta.

Thomas finished with 15 points and ten rebounds, while Donaldson had 15 points, three boards and three assists.  Jalen Mitchell also finished in double figures, adding 11 points and six rebounds. Roach had eight points and five rebounds, while Henry finished with seven points, four rebounds and two assists.

Justin Allison led Spring Hill with 12 points.

Saturday, the Panthers start a four-game road swing, heading to Lane on Saturday and then to LeMoyne-Owen on Monday.