The Clark Atlanta University Panthers split a pair of games in the Clayton State Classic this weekend in at Clayton State University in Morrow, Ga.

Friday the Panthers took the hosts, the Clayton State Lakers who were able to extend a close lead throughout the first half into a 13-point margin – 55-42 – at halftime.  Clayton State hit 57 percent of their shots, including seven 3-pointers.

But Clark Atlanta whittled down the lead to three points after consecutive Jalen Williams jumpers made it 66-63 with 12:18 left. After Clayton State missed a shot on the next possession, Shannon Smith drained a 3-pointer to tie game.

The game stayed close and was tied at 76-76 when Jalen Shaw hit two free throws with 5:26 left in the game.  After two CSU missed baskets, including a missed dunk, Chris Martin's layup gave Clark Atlanta the lead at 78-76.

It was a lead they would not relinquish down the stretch. The Lakers got within two several times towards the end, the final time when it was 91-89 after a Shaw basket with 16 seconds left.  But the rest of the way, Clayton State missed two shots and a free throw, along with turning the ball over.  Clark Atlanta got free throws from Williams and Demtrius Headspeth to seal the victory.

Defensively, CAU was able to shut down the hot shooting Lakers, only allowing to hit 11 baskets in the second half.  Clayton State only hit 38 percent of their shots in the half while CAU hit 51 percent of theirs.

Martin led CAU with 24 points and 11 rebounds while also dishing eight assists.  Williams finished with 21 points and four rebounds, while Smith added 14 points and four rebounds, and Rodney Simon had 14 points, seven rebounds, a block and an assist.  Justin Longstreet had 11 points, three rebounds and three assists.

Clayton State was led by Ricardo Saams, Jr. who had a game-high 31 points, while Shaw finished with 12 points and ten rebounds.

Saturday, the Panthers took on a Georgia College team that came into the game 2-1 after having suffered their first loss of the season against Tuskegee on Friday night.

CAU had a rough shooting day Saturday, falling behind Georgia College 13-2 in the first four minutes of the game.  The Bobcats got the lead up to as many as 14 points after Jordan Thomas' 3-pointer made it 28-14 with 3:40 left before halftime.  Eric Reed Jr.'s 3-pointer and layup help key a late CAU surge that got the lead down to seven points less than two minutes before the end of the half.  But the Bobcats got two baskets to get the lead by to 11 – 32-21 – at halftime.

CAU could only muster seven field goals in the half, hitting only 27 percent of their shots.

The first four minutes of the second half saw Georgia College run the lead out to 16 points after Brandon Thomas's jumper made it 41-25.  CAU was not able to catch the Bobcats the rest of the way, with the lead growing to as many as 31 points in the half.

For the game, CAU only hit 27.9 percent of their shots, where out-rebounded 45-35, and turned the ball over 17 times.  Georgia College scored 17 points off turnovers.

Reed led CAU with nine points, while Longstreet had eight. Williams had four points and had a team high eight rebounds.

Christian Koneman led the Bobcats with 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, with Jordan Thomas adding 15 points, and Richard Crawford 11 points. 

CAU is off for the Thanksgiving break until Saturday, Nov. 27 when they host Central State immediately following the Lady Panthers' 2 p.m. matchup with Central State.