Justin Longstreet and Chris Martin both had 17 points to lead Clark Atlanta over an undermanned Central State squad 79-64 in the first round of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament in Rock Hill, S.C., Monday.

The Panthers (12-15), the sixth seed from the SIAC East Division, will move on to play LeMoyne-Owen College (15-11), the tourney's third see from the West Division, Tuesday at noon.   Central State finishes their season at 6-20.

It was Clark Atlanta's eight win in the last nine meetings between the two schools, dating back to January 2016. CAU also avenged a 78-76 loss to Central State in November.

Central State started the game with just six players and had only five by the time the second half started after CSU's Dustin Davis left the game with an injury.

Clark Atlanta took advantage as they used a deep bench (CAU's bench scored 33 points as opposed to zero for CSU) and size (they outrebounded Central State 50-29) as they only trailed for 22 seconds of the game's 40 minutes.

CSU kept things close in the first half until the Panthers' 8-0 run late in the half – capped by a Rodney Simon layup – pushed the CAU lead to 12 at 38-26. 

Central State managed to fight back as they closed to 50-46 midway through the second half after a Willie Jackson jumper with 11:50 remaining.  But over the next three minutes, CAU went on a 13-2 run that made it 63-48 after Simon's tip-in with 8:18 remaining.   CAU maintained the double-digit lead the rest of the way for the win.

Martin came off the bench to score 17 points and grab 10 rebounds and dished out six assists.  Longstreet had 17 points, seven rebounds, two assists and a steal.  Jalen Williams finished with 11 points, four rebounds and a steal.  Simon had a strong game inside for CAU as he had eight points, 11 rebounds and six blocks.

CSU was led by Jackson who had 23 points, three rebounds and two seats.  Marcus Steele added 17 points four rebounds and five steals.