Orangeburg, SC – Jaimik Moore came off the bench to drop in 16 of the final 17 points, as Claflin University avenged an earlier season loss to Winston-Salem State University, defeating the Rams 69-57, in a Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) southern division contest in Tullis Arena.
Moore hit four three-pointers and five total field goals over a three and one-half minute span.
Austin Lawton was the only other Panther to finish in double-figures with 14, including 5-of-6 from the field and 4-6 from the charity stripe.
Cornellius Reynolds and Brandon Davis knocked down nine points each, while Reynolds and Lawton led the team on the boards with seven, as the Panthers improved to 10-12 overall and 8-8 in the CIAA
William Crandell came off the Winston-Salem State bench to score a team-high 16 points and pull in a team-high seven rebounds.
Mason Harrell dropped in 12 and Jamel McAllister closed out the double-digit scorers for the Rams with 11.
The loss drops Winston-Salem State to 9-12 overall and 4-9 in the CIAA.
After owning the four-point lead at intermission (29-25), Claflin stretched the lead to seven twice within the first two minutes of the second half, owning a 32-25 lead at the 19:22 mark and 34-27 lead at 18:41.
The Rams scored the next four points to pull with three (34-31), but the Panthers stayed solid increasing their lead to six, 38-32 with 15 minutes remaining in the contest.
After coming within one, 44-43, over the next six minutes, Winston-Salem State appeared to have its offense going but Claflin remained poised.
The Panthers strung together five straight points to increase the margin to five, 49-43, with 7:32 remaining and never looked back.
Claflin outscored the Rams 14-6 to take a commanding 14-point lead with just under five minutes remaining (60-46).
The Panthers would go up by as many 20 (69-49) with 2:33 left in the ball game, but Winston-Salem State had one last run in them.
The Rams closed the game on an 8-0 run but ran out of time in falling by the 12-point margin.
The first half of the game saw three ties and eight lead changes.
Claflin finished the game scoring 17 points off the 15 miscues by Winston-Salem State. The Panthers connected on 15 second chance points and outrebounded Winston-Salem State 32-28.
The Rams did manage to outscore Claflin in the Paint, 30-26, and their bench outscored Claflin bench 30-27.
Claflin will return to action on Monday, when they host Johnson C. Smith in a CIAA southern division contest.