Panthers Picked Second in CIAA Preseason Predicted Order of Finish
CHARLOTTE, NC - For the third season in a row, the Claflin Panthers were picked to finish second in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men's Basketball Preseason Predicted Order of Finish. The high expectations are nothing new for the Panthers as the team was picked second in the 2023 and 2024 preseason predictions as well.
The selection comes on the heels of another terrific season for the Panthers. Last season, the Panthers posted a 20-10 overall record and an 11-5 record in CIAA play. The team finished the 2024-25 regular season as the second-seeded team from the CIAA Southern Division. The selection marks the third straight season in a row. The team was able to finish the 2024-25 season on a high note after claiming the inaugural Black Collegiate Invitational Championship.
The Panthers will kick off the 2025-26 basketball season on November 14
th when the team heads to Institute, West Virginia to take on the Glenville State Pioneers in the Earl Lloyd Classic. The team will open home court against the South Carolina Central Christian Gladiators for homecoming.
For more information on Panthers basketball, contact the Claflin University Office of Athletics Media Relations at (803) 535-5548 or log on to
www.athletics.claflin.edu.
2025-26 CIAA Men's Basketball Predicted Order of Finish
1. Virginia State
2. Claflin
3. Fayetteville State
4. Virginia Union
5. Lincoln (Pa.)
6. Johnson C. Smith
7. Shaw
8. Bluefield State
9. Bowie State
10. Livingstone
11. Elizabeth City State
12. Winston-Salem State
