Shannon Smith had 23 points as Clark Atlanta took over in the second half to defeat Albany State 82-73 in Albany, Ga., Monday.

The Panthers (9-13, 4-10 SIAC) avenged a January 24^th 94-87 loss to Albany State (9-15, 7-8 SIAC) and helped boost their chances to move up in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference East Division standings.  CAU is in fifth with a chance to move up to third by the time the SIAC Men's Basketball Tournament begins on Feb. 28 in Rock Hill, S.C.

Instead of playing on the tournament's first day, the third-place team wouldn't have to play until the until late the second night of the tournament.

Monday, the Panthers were in a first half battle with Albany State as neither team could muster a lead of more than five points.  The two teams ended the half deadlocked at 39-39.

The second half saw CAU Jalen Williams score seven points in just under three minutes to help CAU take a 48-39 lead.  That lead reached double figures when Justin Longstreet hit a basket that made it 58-48 with 12:12 left in the game.

Albany State was able to battle back with a 14-5 run that shaved the lead to 63-62 with 7:39 remaining. Unanswered baskets by Javonte Sterling, Benjamin Raspberry, Longstreet, and Smith got the lead back up to nine points – 71-62 – as the game went under five minutes remaining.  CAU stayed in control the rest of the way, leading by as many as 11 points, as they seized the win.

Smith, who has averaged 21.6 points over the last three games, finished with 23 points with five 3-pointers, three assists, three steals and two rebounds. Sterling had a career high 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting along with six rebounds while Longstreet had 17 points, five rebounds, two steals and two assists.  Williams added 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.

Jordan Simpson led Albany State with 18 points and eight rebounds.

Clark Atlanta returns home Thursday for a crucial game against Savannah State at approximately 8 p.m. in L.S. Epps Gymnasium, immediately following the Albany State-CAU women's game.