BALTIMORE, MD - The Claflin Panthers (18-10) left it all on the floor, Thursday evening, when the team took a heartbreaking 56-53 loss to the Lincoln (Pa.) Lions in the quarterfinal round of the 2025 Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Men's Basketball Championship Tournament. After holding a 53-53 tie with just over three minutes left to play, the two teams combined for just one field goal in the remainder of the game. Unfortunately, the field goal was a Lincoln (Pa.) with just eight seconds left to play. It was followed by a Lincoln (Pa.) free throw that sealed the Panthers' 56-53 loss.
 
The Panthers played their usual balanced game in the hard-fought loss. Nine of the 12 Panthers that took the floor scored in the game. The team played an extremely efficient game with only four turnovers. Claflin senior guard Michael Shuler and senior guard Jailen Williams both scored nine points each in the game. Four more Panthers scored six points each. Claflin senior forward Zion Obanla scored six points with eight rebounds in the game.
 
The loss ends the Panthers' season with an 18-10 record and their third straight trip to the quarterfinal round of the CIAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament.
 
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.