Claflin kills Miles comeback
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Miles fell behind 14 points in the second half and it appeared that Claflin would run away with an easy victory Wednesday night at the Bill Harris Arena.
Led by
Joshua Johnson, who scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half, the Golden Bears nearly staged a big comeback. But Trevor Dantzler's 3-pointer with less than 30 seconds remaining quelled the tide as the Panthers (9-4, 4-1 SIAC) escaped with a 76-72 win over the Golden Bears (3-10, 1-1).
The two teams traded baskets early and a putback by
Shaquille Cook (11 points, six rebounds) gave Miles a 19-18 lead in the first half. But a 12-0 run by the Panthers - highlighted by two Dantzler threes - pushed the Golden Bears into a 34-21 hole.
Miles trailed 35-28 at the half, a deficit made bigger by the Panthers on the opening minutes of the second half. But Johnson and
Henrique Cistrunk (14 points, eight rebounds) scored 26 of the Golden Bears 44 second half points to get the team close. With 1:41 remaining,
Sheldon Wright went to the free throw line with a chance to tie the game but split two free throws. After the team exchanged baskets, Dantzler (nine points) nailed the dagger to push the Claflin advantage to 74-70 with 28 seconds left and Miles would not get any closer.
Ryan McNeill-Moses scored a team-high 16 points for Claflin.
Joshua Samuels (14 points) and
Carl Garcia (eight points, four rebounds, three steals) had solid performances for Miles, which travels to Central State on Jan. 14. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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