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Men's Basketball

Claflin Panthers Travel to Benedict for Non-Conference Matchup

Columbia, S.C. – When the Claflin University Panthers and the Tigers of Benedict College take center court inside the HRC Arena on Thursday (Jan. 23), it will put the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) against the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC).
 
The contest will start 20 minutes after the completion of the women's game at approximately 7:30 p.m.
 
Since the move to the CIAA, the Panthers are 4-1 against teams from the SIAC that includes an 89-79 victory over Benedict last season in Orangeburg.
 
In the last 27 meetings, Benedict holds a 15-12 advantage, but Claflin has dominated the series in recent years, winning eight of the last 10 games, including the past three by an average of 9.3 points.
 
This year, both teams will bring three-game losing streaks into the matchup as Claflin is 9-10 after suffering a heart-breaking 68-64 road loss to Winston-Salem State University on Monday. As for Benedict, the Tigers fell to Albany State University 87-80 in overtime earlier in the week for a 7-11 record.
 
The last taste of victory for the two teams came on the very same day (Jan. 11), when Claflin upended Bowie State University 66-60 and Benedict was an 80-64 winner over Paine College.
 
The contest on Thursday will feature a high-scoring Benedict team that is averaging 74.9 points with eight games of 80 points or more. The Tigers scored a season-high 96 points in the win over Lane College, shooting 57.4-percent (35-for-61) in the game.
 
Claflin hopes to counter the Tigers offense with a hard-nose defense that's allowing 69.1 points this season and holding opponents to 30.2-percent shooting from the three-point range. The Panthers defense is holding oppositions to 5.7 made three-pointers a game. Claflin held Lincoln University (Pa.) to a season-low two three-point baskets and four other opponents to three each.
 
The Claflin swapping defense is forcing 14.7 turnovers a game along with 6.1 steals.
 
On offense, the Panthers are led by Letrell West at 13.9 points and Brandon Davis with 11.3 points. West also leads the team in three-pointers at 45.
 
As a team, Claflin is generating an average of 70.5 points per game.
 
Deon Joyner leads three players in double-figures for Benedict at 13.8 pints followed by Tajh Green and Joseph Staton at 12.5 points and 12.4 points, respectively.
 
Following the Benedict game, Claflin will host Livingstone College in in a CIAA Southern Division contest, Monday (Jan. 27).
 
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Players Mentioned

Brandon Davis

#24 Brandon Davis

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Letrell West

#11 Letrell West

G
6' 2"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Brandon Davis

#24 Brandon Davis

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Letrell West

#11 Letrell West

6' 2"
Sophomore
G