Thompson Scores 30 points as Claflin Pick Up First-Ever CIAA Win

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by Panthers Sports Information Department

Orangeburg, S.C. – Triston Thompson scored a career-high 30 points and dished out nine assists as the Claflin University Panthers opened its Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) era with an 83-71 win over Saint Augustine's University at the Tullis Arena on Monday (Nov. 19).
 
The win evened Claflin season record at 2-2 and 1-0 in the CIAA.
 
Thompson was 8-of-13 from the field that and perfect from the free throw line at 12-for-12, including six straight in the closing minutes.
 
Romero Hill chipped in 15 points for the Panthers, while Rodney Prichard came off the bench to add 12.
 
Claflin also tied a season-best nine three-pointers, seven coming in the second half.  Hill led the way with three.
 
Saint Augustine's, now 2-2 and 0-1 in the CIAA, was led by Tyre Gathright with 25 points followed by Miguel Brown with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Leading by three points, 28-25, at the intermission and 34-31 with 15:42 left, the Panthers put together an impressive 16-7 run over a 4-1/2 minute period. The run provided Claflin with a 50-38 cushion.
 
Hill led the offensive surge with five points, while Thompson added four.
 
Jquwan Ruffin hit a three-pointer with just over four minutes remaining, to culminate a 14-7 run by the Falcons to cut the 12-point deficit to five, 57-52.
 
Hill gave the Panthers some breathing room with a three-point basket giving Claflin a 60-53 lead with 3:21 left.
 
From that point, the two teams played nearly even the rest of the way with Claflin outscoring Saint Augustine's 23-18.
 
The contest was close throughout the first half with no lead larger than seven points. Saint Augustine's held the honor at 21-14 with 9:57 showing on the clock.

The Panthers would put together a 10-2 run over the next five minutes to take a 24-23 lead with 4:01 left in the half.
 
After Saint Augustine's regained the lead at 25-24 on Gathright's basket with 3:29 on the clock, the Panthers scored the last four points for a 28-24 halftime advantage.
 
Thompson, who had 11 points in the half, scored all four points for Claflin.
Claflin will take a one-game break from CIAA action, playing host to Limestone College on (Nov. 21). The non-conference contest gets underway at 7:30 p.m.
 
For the game, the Panthers connected on nine three-pointers, seven coming in the second half.