Obanla vs. Central State
64
Central St. (OH) CSU-M 17-17,10-10 SIAC
80
Winner Claflin CLAFMBB 19-10,11-5 CIAA
Central St. (OH) CSU-M
17-17,10-10 SIAC
64
Final
80
Claflin CLAFMBB
19-10,11-5 CIAA
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Central St. (OH) CSU-M 28 36 64
Claflin CLAFMBB 33 47 80

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Panthers Take an 80-64 Win Over Central State to Advance to BCIC Championship Game

CHARLOTTE, NC - The Claflin Panthers (19-10) will advance to the championship round of the inaugural Black College Invitational Championship Tournament after the team took an 80-64 win over the Central State Marauders (17-17), Thursday afternoon. After playing a competitive first half, the Panthers broke the game open with a big second half to claim the win.
 
The Panthers took the win by combining a dominating interior effort with some solid perimeter shooting. As a team, the Panthers shot 47.0% (31-of-66) from the floor. The effort included 22 points in the paint and seven three-pointers made. Claflin senior forward Zion Obanla led the way with a near double-double 18 points with nine rebounds in the game. Fellow senior forward HowVante Hutcherson added a career-high 12 points with five rebounds, a block, and a steal. Claflin junior guard Guy Fauntleroy added 12 points with three assists.
 
In the first half, the Panthers and Marauders played a very competitive game with neither team going ahead by more than seven points in the half. The Panthers took a 33-28 lead into the locker room at halftime after closing the final minutes of the half with a pair of baskets from Obanla kept the Panthers ahead.
 
Things took a turn midway through the second half when the Panthers broke the game open. After playing to a 43-43 tie with 15:08 left to play, the Panthers went on a 14-1 run that was capped by a dunk by Obanla that gave the Panthers a 55-44 lead with 10:40 left to play. From there, the Panthers never looked back. The team pushed their lead to as many as 21 points, 78-57 after a three-pointer from junior guard Cristian Sanon with 2:36 left to play. From there, the Panthers cruised to the 80-64 victory.
 
With the win, the Panthers advance to the championship game of the inaugural Black College Invitational Championship. The team will face the Virginia Union Panthers in the championship game of the Inaugural Black College Invitational Championship Tournament. The two teams will face off at 3:00 p.m., Saturday afternoon at Bojangles Coliseum. 
 
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.
 
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