Three Clark Atlanta players scoring in double-figures were not enough to stop Winston-Salem State, who defeated the Panthers 75-65 Wednesday in L.S. Epps Gymnasium.

A capacity crowd filled Epps Gymnasium for the home opener for Clark Atlanta (1-2) who had split two games in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference/Gulf South Conference Challenge last weekend in Fort Valley, Ga.

The Panthers got the big crowd excited early after Shannon Smith's 3-pointer put CAU ahead of WSSU (2-1) 7-6 in a furious first five minutes of the game. But it would be the last lead that CAU would have on the night.

Shamon Jackson's jumper put WSSU ahead and started a 25-10 run by over the next 11 minutes of the game, culminated by Javonte Cooke's 3-pointer to put the Rams up 32-16 with 3:31 left in the half.  Clark Atlanta was able to cut into that lead with five straight points to end the half down 32-21.

But CAU still had a lot of fight left in them.  The Panthers continued to whittle down the WSSU lead, with Chris Martin's two free throws midway through the second half pulling CAU to within four points at 49-45.

The margin was still four after Eric Reed Jr.'s layup made the game 56-52 with 7:42 left. But a CAU scoring drought over the next four minutes allowed WSSU to push the lead back up to 11 points – 65-54 – after Cameron Campbell's two free throws.  The Panthers could only close the game to seven points down the stretch before WSSU put the game out of reach for the win.

Only one player didn't score for WSSU – starter Samage Teel – in a balance attack that only saw two players in double figure scoring.  The Rams outrebounded CAU 44-28 and used that to outscore the Panthers 18-10 on second chance pointsl   The Rams also scored 14 points off turnovers and saw their bench outscore the CAU bench 42-7.

CAU was led by Smith's game-high 18 points, with five 3-pointers, two rebounds and two steals. Martin had 15 points, nine rebounds, three assists and a steal, while Justin Longstreet had ten points.
Jalen Williams had nine points and five rebunds, while Demetrius Headspeth added six points and five boards.

WSSU's balanced attack was led by Jonathan Hicklin's 14 points and 12 rebounds. Cooke and Xavier Fennell both added ten points each.

Clark Atlanta will have a day off before they are back on the floor, this time on Atlanta's southside when they play in the Clayton State Classic in Morrow, Ga.  CAU takes on Clayton State Friday at 6 p.m. and Georgia College on Saturday at 2 p.m.