Clark Atlanta, Lane defeat Kentucky State 78-60

Clark Atlanta and junior guard Najee’ Lane played up to their billing in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament Wednesday.

Lane, who was named SIAC player of the year, scored a game-high 23 points, and the top-seeded Panthers had three other players score in double-figures in a 78-60 victory against Kentucky State in a quarterfinal game at Forbes Arena on the Morehouse campus.

Clark Atlanta (23-5) plays Claflin in the tournament semifinals at 8 p.m. Friday.

“Every night we’re trying to show everybody in the conference why we’re No. 1,” said Lane, who was named player of the year Wednesday.

Clark Atlanta’s other players with double-figure scoring were David Brown, Jourdain Blackmon and Mike Creppy, who each scored 12 points.

The victory gave the Panthers a 2-1 record against Kentucky State this season. Clark Atlanta defeated the Thorobreds 68-53 on Jan. 16.

Clark Atlanta, which had a first-round bye, entered Wednesday’s game having won five of its previous six games. But the Panthers had not played since a 70-65 loss at Kentucky State on Feb. 25.

“I told the team that [Kentucky State] thinks they can beat us,” Panthers coach Darryl Jacobs said.

But despite having not played in six days, Clark Atlanta was sharp early. The Panthers, who were ranked No. 20 in the Division II national poll, patiently worked their offense to get open perimeter shots. The team also was active on defense, altering shots on the inside and getting rebounds.

Brown, a junior guard/forward, made a 3-pointer to cap a 10-2 run at the beginning of the game. He scored five of the Panthers' first 10 points.

Creppy made a 3-pointer to increase the Panthers lead to 22-11. Kentucky State came back with a 5-0 run to make the score 22-16.

But Clark Atlanta finished the first half strong. The Panthers led 36-18 when Lane, who scored 11 points in the first half, made a free throw with 1:15 left in the first half.