January 30, 2016 – ATLANTA – The Maroon Tigers turned a blowout into a nail-biter, squandering a 16-point second-half lead, but holding on to win 69-67 over the Clark Atlanta Panthers.

As usual for this cross-campus rivalry, Forbes Arena was packed to the rafters, with nearly 6,000 fans who had circled this game on their calendars when the schedule was released.

Morehouse took a convincing 36-23 lead into halftime, on the strong play of Robert Askew, with 11 points and Michael Hall, with nine. The lead ballooned to 16 points early in the second half before the tread came off the Maroon Tigers' wheels.

Poor shot selection and ball handling by the Maroon Tigers and improved shooting by the Panthers chipped away at the Morehouse lead. The Maroon Tigers hit 18 of 34 free throws and turned the ball over 17 times, compared to only seven turnovers by the Panthers  

Clark Atlanta improved their shooting from 31 percent in the first half to 49 percent in the second half and had two chances to win or tie in the last five seconds. A smothering Maroon Tiger defense forced errant shots that missed the mark.  

The win pushed Morehouse to 10-5 (6-4 SIAC) and sets up the rematch with the Panthers, February 13, at Epps Gymnasium.

As he has for the last five games, Ayinde Russell led Morehouse in scoring with 19 points. The freshman guard from Tucker High School hit 5 of 12 shots from the field. He made 7 of 10 free throws, late in the second half, to help hold off the charging Panthers.

Despite second-half foul trouble, Robert Askew posted his fourth double-double of the season, finishing with 15 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The 6'-8" center from Augusta, GA, tacked on two blocks and two steals, for another all-around solid game.

Michael Hall hit 6 of 9 shots, for 13 points, and pulled down six rebounds. Martravious Little added five points and four rebounds.

Rasheed Shofidiya only scored two points, but his hustle and energy were a key to the Morehouse victory. Shofidiya, a 6'-6" forward from Chicago, was all over the floor and the boards, hauling in a career-high 10 rebounds.   

Shofidiya's 10 rebounds and five each from Miodrag Minic and Michael Scott helped Morehouse post a 46-34 rebounding advantage. Scott chipped in 10 points, eight of them in the second half.  

Damien Enoch led the way for Clark Atlanta, with a game-high 20 points and 10 rebounds. Tim Sanders poured in 19 points and Derek Harper added 16, as the Panthers slid to 4-15; (2-8 SIAC).

Morehouse travels to Columbia, SC, Tuesday, at 7:30 p.m., to play the SIAC-leading Benedict Tigers.

The Maroon Tigers return home, Saturday, at 3 p.m., to face the Claflin University Panthers.