Men's Basketball 2/24/2020 10:03:00 PM Romanda Noble-Watson, SID

Claflin Men Open CIAA Tournament Play Against Elizabeth City State

Charlotte, N.C. – The Claflin University Panthers will begin their quest toward a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Tournament Championship on Tuesday (Feb. 25), taking on Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) in the first round inside the Bojangles' Coliseum at 8:50 pm.

The single-elimination tournament will be held in two venues again this year: Bojangles' Coliseum (February 25-26) and Spectrum Center (February 27-29). Championship Saturday will tipoff at 1:00 p.m. for the women followed by the men at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 29.

This will be second time in three days the teams will face off and the third of the season.

On Saturday (Feb. 22), Claflin defeated ECSU, 73-62, for senior day. Both teams won on their respective court as the Vikings defeated the Panthers 60-57 on Nov. 21.

Claflin, 13-5, will enter tournament play as the No. 4 seed team from the Southern Division, while ECSU 12-16 on the season, is the No. 5 seed in the North. The winner of the contest will advance to take on No. 1 seed in the North, Virginia State University in the quarterfinal round on Wednesday (Feb. 26) at 6:40 p.m. at Bojangles' Coliseum.

In the first meeting between the two, Brandon Davis led all scorers with 17 points. Donnell Frayer, Jr. had 10 points and Cornellius Reynolds had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds for Claflin. Allen Joseph led ECSU with 16 points-14 rebounds.

The Panthers had four players to score in double-figures in the second contest. Reynolds paced Claflin with 12 points and eight rebounds. Nkem Ojeh, Davis and Frayer, Jr. all had 10 points in the win.

Justine Faison had 19 points and Tyjhai Byers added 11 for ECSU.

Letrell West and Davis are averaging double-figures for Claflin at 12.8 and 10.4, respectively. Reynolds is contributing 9.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per outing.

Justin Faison leads three players in double-figures for ECSU with 16.3 points per game. Zaccheus Hobbs is averaging 15.7 points and Joseph Allen 12 points and 10.1 rebounds.

The contest with WSSU along with all 22 games of the men's and women's tournament will be shown live on the CIAASN. BlueFrame will produce and broadcast all games on Tuesday, Wednesday and the first two games on Thursday and will also simulcast the final eight (8) games, which will broadcast live on Aspire TV.

For the entire list of CIAA Tournament happenings visit the Men's and Women's Basket Championship pages at www.theciaa.com or download the CIAA Tournament mobile app via iTunes or Google Play. You can also follow the CIAA on Twitter (@CIAAforLife), Instagram (@CIAASports) and Facebook (The CIAA), or search #CIAATourney or #CIAAHoops on either platform.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#24 Brandon Davis: G; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#2 Cornellius Reynolds: G/F; 6' 6"; Junior

#00 Nkem Ojeh: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#11 Letrell West: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#12 Donnell Frayer, Jr.: G; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#24 Brandon Davis
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: G

#2 Cornellius Reynolds
: 6' 6"; Junior
: G/F

#00 Nkem Ojeh
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#11 Letrell West
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#12 Donnell Frayer, Jr.
: 6' 2"; Junior
: G