Clark Atlanta closed out the home and regular season by withstanding a late Paine College comeback to defeat the Lions 90-84 Monday in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

The Panthers (13-11, 10-7 SIAC) led by as many as 21 points in the second half before Paine (7-18, 5-12 SIAC) – a team that defeated CAU last month – made things close late.

CAU led by 11 midway through the first half after Ian Roach hit a 3-pointer that made it 27-16 with just over eight minutes remaining before halftime.  But Paine inched their way back into it, pulling within four three minutes later on Johnnie Robinson's 3-pointer, making it 30-26. 
Roach then hit back-to-back threes that pushed CAU's lead back out to ten points at 36-26.  

CAU poured it on before the half, swelling the lead to as many as 18 points before going into the break up 50-35.

Besides Roach's three first half 3-pointers, the big reason for the big CAU first half was Shelvick Henry, who, in his final home appearance, had 18 first-half points with four 3-pointers.

The second half began the same way as the first half ended as the Panthers went up by as many as 21 points after senior Austin Donaldson hit a layup that made it 60-39 with 18:01 remaining and again after a Donaldson 3-pointer made it 66-45 two minutes later.

But Paine knocked off a quick 24-12 run over the next nine minutes to get the lead under ten when Robinson's layup made it 78-69 with 7:28 remaining.

By the 4:27 mark, the CAU lead went to one point – 80-79 – after Deshawndric Nelms' basket.  Henry and Donaldson each followed with baskets while the CAU defense held Paine at bay, giving Clark Atlanta an 84-79 advantage with 2:41 left.   Robinson's 3-pointer again pulled Paine to within a basket 23 seconds later at 84-82 with 2:18 left.

But that was the last basket that CAU allowed Paine as the Panthers won the free throw battle to preserve the win.

Henry led CAU with 26 points, hitting 6-of-9 3-pointers. He also had four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Also playing in fheir final home game were Donaldson, who finished with 19 points, three rebounds and two assists; and Jalen Mitchell, who had 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.

Roach finished with 13 points while Shannon Smith had 12 points for CAU.

Paine was led by Robinson's 27 points and Khalen Pinkett's 20.

The Panthers finish the regular season in third place in the SIAC East Division, behind Albany State and regular-season division champions, Morehouse. 

Now it's on to the SIAC Tournament that begins Monday in Birmingham, Ala.  Last season, the Panthers advanced to the championship game after winning the tournament in 2017.  Seedings for this year's tournament will be announced this week.