cau_cu_mbb
76
Central State CSU 6-23
77
Winner Clark Atlanta University CAU-M 14-11
Central State CSU
6-23
76
Final
77
Clark Atlanta University CAU-M
14-11
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Central State CSU 41 35 76
Clark Atlanta University CAU-M 36 41 77

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Marauders' season closes with 77-76 loss to Clark Atlanta


 
Marauders' season comes to a close in 77-76 loss to Clark Atlanta

 
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – The sixth seeded Central State Marauders nearly pulled off an upset against three seeded Clark Atlanta but a last second mid-range shot rattled off the rim as CSU fell, 77-76, in the opening round of Tuesday's SIAC Tournament.

 
In front of a pro-Clark Atlanta crowd, CSU scored the first six points of the game and led by as many as 13 after a Orion Monford basket at the 11:07 mark of the first half. CAU cut the deficit down thanks to a 7-0 run and eventually tied the game up, 27-27, with a Jason Myrie basket with 4:20 to go in the half. Sandwiched by three-pointers from Monford and Randal Clarkson, Jr., CSU responded with an 11-0 run before taking a 41-36 lead at intermission.

 
CSU increased their lead to nine, 58-49, after a Tom Johnson layup at the 13:08 mark. CAU reclaimed momentum with a 13-0 run capped off by three-point makes from Romaine Thomas and Myrie to give the Panthers its first lead, 62-58, with 9:49 to go. With 2:13 to play and trailing by five, CSU guard Tom Johnson scored the next four points to cut the deficit down, 74-73, with 1:25 showing on the clock. After CAU split a pair of free throws, Monford knocked down a three-pointer on the fastbreak to put his team up by one with 50 seconds left. CAU's Austin Donaldson's basket at the 37 second mark would go on to eventually become the game winner. After a series of turnovers, CSU had the ball with 3.5 seconds left. Johnson found Monford on the elbow but the potential game-winning shot rattled out of the cylinder to end CSU's season.

 
CSU gave the ball away 18 times and were outscored, 24-15, in points off turnovers.

 
Jalen Mitchell led five CAU players in double-figures with 17 points. Donaldson finished with 16 points.

 
Johnson and Monford paced the Marauder offense. Johnson had 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Monford added 17 points and four rebounds.

 
CSU finishes the 2018-2019 season with an overall record of 6-23.



 
Notes
 
 
CSU is 0-4 in the SIAC Tournament.

 
CSU has lost its four SIAC Tournament games by an average margin of four points.

 
Johnson tied a season-high in points with 21 on Tuesday night.
 
 

 
 
Quotes from Head Coach Joseph Price



"I am proud of the way our guys fought hard for all 40 minutes tonight. We had our chances to come out on top but just couldn't make the crucial shots to get us over the hump."

 
"I thought Clark Atlanta did a tremendous job of staying in the game when we had them down by double-figures. We wish them the best of luck in the tournament."

 
"Tom, Orion and the entire team have been very coachable throughout this season. We suffered through some key injuries and missing pieces to our team but I continue to consider myself very fortunate to have been around these young men. We have quite a few players scheduled to return next year and we can't wait to get back to work preparing for the 2019-2020 season."
 
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