Romaine Thomas hit a free throw that put Clark Atlanta into overtime against Xavier University of New Orleans, but the Panthers came up short in the extra period, falling 70-67 Sunday in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.
It was the second consecutive year that the two teams fought an overtime battle, with CAU getting the win last season in New Orleans.
The Panthers (0-4) led in overtime as Thomas hit two free throws with 57 seconds remaining to put CAU up 67-65. But XULA (6-3) got a 3-pointer from Ed Carter with 41 seconds left and then two free throws by Cameron Dumas with 19 seconds left that sealed the win.
Clark Atlanta had led by as many as 24 points after
Calvin White's layup gave CAU a 31-7 lead with 7:38 left in the first half. A 19-9 XULA run over the next seven minutes allowed them to shave that led to 40-26 at halftime.
XULA had outscored CAU 20-12 over the first 13 minutes of the second half when William Loyd hit a free throw to tie the game at 52-52 with 7:16 left in the game. The lead then see-sawed back and forth as XULA's Rayshawn Mart tipped in a shot with 2:51 left to give them a 58-57 lead. A minute later, White hit a big jumper that put CAU ahead 59-58. Carter countered with a layup that put XUlA back in front 60-59 with 1:27 left. Loyd eventually fouled
Thomas with 31 seconds left in the game. Thomas hit one-of-two to tie the game and send it to overtime.
In overtime, XULA led by as many as five after Virgil Davison's basket gave them a 65-60 lead with 3:58 left. Thomas pulled CAU to within two with a 3-pointer and then a layup that tied the game at 65-65 with 1:51 left in OT. A minute later, Thomas was fouled by Dumas and then hit two free throws that gave CAU a 67-65 lead with 57 seconds left, CAU's final lead of the day.
Thomas led CAU with 16 points and nine rebounds, while White finished with 13 points, six boards and two assists.
Traylen Warren had 12 points and
Tyler Singleton added ten points and five assists.
Davison led XULA with 22 points, while Loyd had 15 and Carter finished with ten points.
Clark Atlanta is back on the court Tuesday when they host Alabama-Huntsville at 7 p.m. in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.
