ELIZABETH CITY, NC - The Claflin Panthers (6-4, 3-0 CIAA) took their third straight win and their second overtime win of the season when the team took a 77-69 win over the Elizabeth City State Vikings (1-7, 1-3 CIAA). The Panthers had to hold off a furious second half effort by the Vikings to claim the win.
 
The Panthers put on a great overall effort to claim the win. As a team, Claflin shot 43.5% (27-of-62) in the game while holding the Vikings to shooting 35.7% (25-of-70) from the floor. The Panthers were led by their trademark balanced attack with four players reaching double-digit scoring. Claflin junior guard Braylon Jackson led the way with 13 points in the game. Fellow junior guard Xavier Tubbs-Matthews added 12 points with three assists and two steals. Junior guard Ramere Draper nearly recorded a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds while senior guard Cristian Sanon added 11 points with two rebounds. Claflin senior center David Onyekonwu just missed a double-double of his own with eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds with a blocked shot in the game.
 
With the win, the Panthers improve to 6-4 overall and remain undefeated at 3-0 in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) play. The team will return to action this weekend when they head to Melbourne, Florida to compete in the Florida Tech Christmas Classic.
 
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.