Tim Christian
65
Benedict BCM 19-8, 11-7 SIAC
74
Winner Claflin University CLAFMBB 20-6, 13-5 SIAC
Benedict BCM
19-8, 11-7 SIAC
65
Final
74
Claflin University CLAFMBB
20-6, 13-5 SIAC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Benedict BCM 27 38 65
Claflin University CLAFMBB 27 47 74

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Claflin Panthers Downs Rival Benedict on Senior Day

Orangeburg, S.C. (2-17-18) -- The Claflin University Panthers picked up their 20th win of the season, defeating intra-state rival Benedict College, 74-65, in a Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) East Division contest Saturday at the Tullis Arena.
 
The win improved Claflin season worksheet to 20-6 overall and 13-5 in the SIAC. The Panthers lifted their divisional record to 6-5 with one game left.
 
Claflin will wrap up the regular season on Monday (Feb. 19) at Paine College in another division matchup at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers won the first meeting 86-53 in Orangeburg.
 
Timothy Christian led Claflin with his first double-double of the season, 13 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Benjamin "Tre" Williams and Triston Thompson rounded out the double-figure scoring for the Panthers with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Tyler Thompson and Tondric Johnson added eight points each for Claflin.
 
Benedict, 19-9 and 11-8, was led by Brandon Morris with a game-high 19 points followed by Dimitri Cook at 12 points.
 
In the second half, Triston Thompson put Claflin ahead for good on a three-pointer with at 17:29 left.
Thompson's basket gave the Panthers a 35-32 lead. The margin increase was increased to 45-38 at the 14:24 mark on the strength of a 10-6 run, led by Christian II eight points.
 
Claflin outscored Benedict 29-27rest of the way. The Panthers held their biggest advantage of the game at 67-55 with 5:42 left.
 
Claflin shot the ball much better in the second half than the first, hitting seven three-pointers with Christian II contributing three.
 
In the opening 10 minutes of the game, the two teams combined for 24 points with Benedict sitting on top at 14-10.
 
The Panthers continued to struggle over the next 4-1/2 scoring just four points; a basket by Triston Thompson and two free throws from Jaret Gassett.
 
Claflin trailed 23-14 at that point with 6:11 showing on the clock.
 
The Panthers reduced Benedict lead to 24-21 at the 2:26 mark as the result of a three-point play from "Tre" Williams.
 
Tyler Thompson tied the contest for only the second time of the half at 27-27, hitting two free throws.
Both teams shot poorly from the field in the opening half with hitting Benedict 36% (9-25) and Claflin at 28.1% (9-32).  In the three-point department, the two teams was a combined 1-for-15 in the opening period.
 
Game Note:  The Claflin men's basketball honored its senior members in a pre-game ceremony.
 
 
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