Tonight, the Clark Atlanta University Panthers are in the quarterfinal round of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament, taking on second-seeded LeMoyne-Owen, at 7:45 p.m. CST at the Birmingham CrossPlex' Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham, Ala.

After a slow start, the Panthers came on in the second half to defeat Central State 77-76 Tuesday in the tourney's first round.  

CAU Head Coach George Lynch said it took a little while for his team to get used to the arena and Central State's small lineup.

"But we'll be better on Thursday," Lynch said during Tuesday's post game press conference.

The Panthers defeated LeMoyne-Owen earned the West's second seed after going 18-9, 12-6 in the SIAC, this season.  The Magicians, who have had two five-game winning streaks this season, fell to CAU 84-77 in early January in Memphis. 

In that game, the Panthers' senior trio led the way with Shelvick Henr finishing with 23 points, Austin Donaldson with 20 and Jalen Mitchell adding 18.

LeMoyne-Owen won eight of their next ten games after that loss.  They now sport the SIAC's top scoring offense at 77 points per game.  Devin Booker leads the Magicians in scoring with 15.6 points per game, ninth best among all SIAC scorers. Tyrone Banks and Jerry Hurt both average 13 points per game. Tory Mason is seventh in rebounding while Toriano Stokes leads the SIAC in blocked shots.  Stokes, a 6'9" 260=pound center, had 13 points and his season-high of 12 rebounds in that game against CAU.

The Panthers counter with Henry, a first-team All-SIAC player who was second among all SIAC scorers with 18.1 points per game, and honorable mention All-Conference player Mitchell, who averaged 16.1 points per game.  Romaine Thomas finished third in rebounding this season while Donaldson was among the conference leaders in assists and steals.

The winner of tonight's game heads to tomorrow's semifinals to take on Paine College, who upset the East number one seed Morehouse 53-49 Wednesday night.

Tickets for tonight's game are $10, while students at SIAC schools are admitted free with a valid student ID.  Those 18 and under are admitted free.

The game will be streamed live on FloHoops.com.