Shannon Smith's 18 points led four Panthers in double figures as Clark Atlanta defeated Atlanta University Center rival Morehouse 72-46 Saturday in a packed L.S. Epps Gymnasium Saturday.
The win is the fourth in a row for Clark Atlanta (11-13, 11-5 SIAC). But more importantly, it's a significant win for CAU in the race for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division regular season crown. The win, coupled with Albany State's loss to Fort Valley State Saturday night, puts Clark Atlanta in first place in the SIAC East race. Morehouse (10-11, 7-7 SIAC) remains in third place.
Saturday's win also avenged a 67-62 loss at Morehouse last month in a game that CAU led by eight points late.
"We had a good practice before the game," CAU Head Coach
George Lynch said. "Guys were dialed in and they should have been. This is a rivalry. We felt as a team that we let one get away from us at Morehouse. We stressed to the guys that we have four games left. All four games will determine whether we win the regular season conference title and then hopefully go into the tournament with a bye in the first week."
Clark Atlanta jumped on the Maroon Tigers early. The Panthers were up by ten when
Tyler Singleton's basket gave CAU a 14-4 lead midway through the first half. CAU continued to pour it on as that lead grew to 22 at halftime when Smith's 3-pointer made the 33-11.
The CAU defense only allowed Morehouse to hit four baskets in the half while outrebounding the Maroon Tigers 29-15. The also forced 11 Morehouse turnovers in the half.
"Rebounding," Smith said afterwards. "The last time we got beat up on the boards. Being able to rebound and just get out there and share the ball, that's what got us that lead."
Five minutes into the second half, Smith's jumper extended the CAU lead to 28 – 41-13. The deficit only got under 20 points once with Clark Atlanta leading by as much as 36 points late.
CAU only allowed Morehouse to hit 25 percent of their shots, including just one 3-pointer on 19 tries. CAU dominated on the boards, outrebounding Morehouse 53-34.
Smith finished with a career-high 18 points with four 3-pointers. He also grabbed four rebounds. Singleton added 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, while
Romaine Thomas had 13 points and a season-high 17 rebounds.
Colin Bell had 12 points and seven rebounds.
"We want first place. That's really what it is," Smith said. "We came in here focused and we knew that today, Monday and here on out is really what we need to focus on. We are right there. We want first place and we're not going to settle for anything else."
It's a quick turnaround for Clark Atlanta as Monday the Panthers host Albany State at 8 p.m. in another big game. The two teams will be battling for first place in the East Division and it's also Senior Night as the game will be the home season finale for CAU.
"As a coach, you try to figure out 'okay we exerted a lot of energy with the excitement of the Morehouse rivalry,'" Lynch said. "We have practice tomorrow and you don't want to wear them out, but we still have to get some work done. And then its Senior Night. So hopefully they will their time, get all their ticket requests out of the way, family visits and all that and they will be able to focus on the task at hand."
