Austin Lawton
Cecil Williams Photography
Austin Lawton recorded a double-double, 14 points-14 rebounds in the win
71
Kentucky State KYSUMBB 11-15
73
Winner Claflin University CLAFMBB 15-12
Kentucky State KYSUMBB
11-15
71
Final
73
Claflin University CLAFMBB
15-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Kentucky State KYSUMBB 36 28 7 71
Claflin University CLAFMBB 32 32 9 73

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Claflin Men’s Basketball Defeats Kentucky State in Overtime in the Opening Round of SIAC Tournament

Birmingham, Ala.-Austin Lawton, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Defensive Player of the Year, recorded a double-double, 14 points-14 rebounds as the Claflin University men's basketball team defeated Kentucky State, 73-71, in overtime in the opening round of the 2016 SIAC Basketball Tournament.  The Panthers will face the winner between No. 2 Miles/No. 7 Paine on Thursday, March 2 at 3:15 p.m.
 
The Tournament will run through Saturday, March 5, 2016 at the Bill Harris Arena, inside the Birmingham Crossplex in Birmingham, Ala.
 
Claflin (15-12) had balance scoring as Karee Watson also recorded a double-double, 13 points-14 rebounds, Patrell Rogers scored 13 points and Ryan McNeill-Moses rounded out the double-digit scoring with 12 points.  Triston Thompson contributed eight points with four assists in the win.
 
Reggie Breeden scored 13 points and nine rebounds and Malcolm Smith scored 13 points for Kentucky State who finished the season with an 11-15 record. Dorian Jordan scored 12 and Tryston Ford dropped in 11 points in the loss.
 
After exchanging the lead over the first six points of overtime, two free-throws by Lawton with 2:21 remaining in the extra period, gave Claflin the 70-68 lead.  The Panthers scored the next two points to increase its lead to four with just under two minutes remaining.  Kentucky State managed to pull within one, 72-71 with 50 seconds left, but a free-throw by McNeill-Moses secured the two point win for the Panthers.
 
"I am Proud of my team," said head coach Ricky Jackson.  "They did an excellent job coming of rebounding the ball down the stretch, executing and getting stops when we need them."
 
After trailing for most to the second half, Claflin's offensive intensity picked up midway thru the half.  The Panthers used an 18-9 run over a 10 minute period to take the 52-51 lead with 6:42 remaining in the second.  Two free-throws less than one minute later gave the Thorobreds the two-point lead, 54-52.  The teams exchanged free-throws over the next four-plus minutes before closing the period with a 64-64 tie and forcing the extra period.
 
Kentucky State opened the game with an 8-2 run but Claflin remained poised.  The Panthers used a 7-0 run of their own to take a 9-8 lead with 15 minutes remaining in the opening period.  Claflin increased its lead to three, 11-8, but a three pointer by Kevin Shaw tied the game at 11-all for the third tie of the half.  There were three more ties and before the Thorobreds offense took control of the half.  Kentucky State used a 7-0 run to go up 24-17 but Claflin kept fighting.  The Panthers cut the lead to three, 30-27, before going into the half down by four, 36-32.
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