Kendall Jackson
Cecil Williams Photography
Senior Kendall Jackson hit two free-throws with eight seconds remaining to lift Claflin over Benedict
53
Benedict BCM 11-8, 9-4 SIAC
54
Winner Claflin University CLAFMBB 11-10, 8-4 SIAC
Benedict BCM
11-8, 9-4 SIAC
53
Final
54
Claflin University CLAFMBB
11-10, 8-4 SIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Benedict BCM 34 19 53
Claflin University CLAFMBB 28 26 54

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Morris Wright

Jackson’s Clutch Free-Throw Shooting Lifts Claflin Past Benedict

Orangeburg, S.C. (Feb. 2) --- Kendall Jackson hit a pair free throws in the closing seconds as the Claflin University Panthers upended the Benedict Tigers by one, 54-53, in a Southern Intercollege Athletic Conference (SIAC) men's basketball contest Monday at the Tullis Arena.
Jackson, who was fouled with eight seconds remaining in the contest, commonly sank both free throws giving Claflin its only lead of the second half.

Benedict had one last opportunity with six seconds remaining, but the Panthers defensive pressure forced a jump-ball. The possession arrow went in Claflin's favor allowing the Panthers to run out the clock.

Benedict, which led 34-28 at the intermission, could never shake Claflin in the second half.  The Tigers increased its lead to 43-33 at the midway point, but the Panthers rallied over the next eight minutes to pull within, four, 50-46, with just over three minutes left in the contest.
Claflin would stay within striking distance for the remainder of the half giving Jackson the opportunity to deliver his game-winning free throws.
"When we got the ball with two minutes left I reminded them of our word(s) of the day; intestinal fortitude," Claflin head coach Ricky Jackson said. "I told them nothing will stop us."

The hard-fought victory moved the Panthers to within a half-game of third place in the SIAC East Division behind Benedict at 8-4. Claflin also surpassed the .500 mark for the season at 11-10 overall.

Adolph Caldwell and Patrell Rogers shared team-high honors with 11 points each.

Ryan McNeill-Moses added nine points and six rebounds, while Fare'al Walker contributed eight points and team-high seven rebounds in the win.

The three-point basket was the main weapon of choice for Benedict, who now sits at 9-4 in the divisional play and 11-8 overall.  The Tigers drained eight three-pointers in the first stanza with Andrew Crawford hitting six for his game-high 18 points.

Claflin travels to Augusta, Ga. this Thursday (Feb. 5) for a pivotal East Division matchup with Paine College. The Panthers will then travel to Clark Atlanta on Saturday (Feb. 7) before closing out a three-game road swing at Morehouse next Monday, Feb. 9.
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