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12 The Panther February 1b-28, 2017
Clark Atlanta University
SPORTS
Panthers come from behind to beat Paine College, 73-72
By Craig Allen Brown
SPORTS EDITOR
Despite Paine College’s 0-10 record in conference play, CAU Coach
Darrell Walker did not take the men’s lightly.
“Paine has some good players. I knew that this was going to be a
fight.”
A fight it was.
The Panthers did not
lead at any point in the
game until the last 34
seconds. They were
able to claw from behind
to pull out a 73-72 win
over a scrappy Paine
College team at L. S.
Epps Gymnasium.
Paine started the
game on fire. The Lions
quickly jumped to a 12-1
lead,
aided by two deep three
pointers by Malcom
Whittington.
CAU would pick
it up offensively, going
on a 8-2 run,capped
by a layup by Michael
Brittain.
After a layup by Paine's Deonte Moses, the Panthers would pick up
the pace, going on a 13-0 run, which made the score 34-32 in favor of the
Lions. Made free throws by Yusef Riley would give Paine a 42-34 lead at
halftime.
Damien Davis guards Paine player.
With 6:30 remaining in the game, the Panthers would find
themselves in trouble when Paine’s Kaderious Compton would heat up. He
would singlehandedly go on a 7-0 run, hitting on successive free throws,
jump shots, and layups.
However, CAU would answer. Lawrence Triplett would hit back-
to-back layups, and Tajai Johnson would hit two free throws to pull within
five,59-64.
Down four with one minute
remaining in the game, Derek Harper
would again step up for the Panthers.
After sinking two free throws, he is
again fouled on a three-point attempt.
He calmly went to the free throw line
and sank all three free throws, giving
the Panthers their first lead of the game.
The Panthers fouled Riley with 33
secbnds left in the game. His two made
free throws gave Paine the lead 72-71.
However, on CAU’s next
possession, Johnson would again attack
the rim, hitting the game winning-shot
with only four seconds remaining.
Paine’s desperation shot at the buzzer
would not find the basket.
All five starters scored in
double digits for the Panthers. Johnson
and Damien Davis lead the way with 18
and 15 points, respectively.
When asked about the game,
Coach Walker said, “I told our guys, if you want to keep playing for first
place, you have to come out in the second half and get after it. We started
pressuring; the pressure bothered them a lot. We forced 26 turnovers, and
were able to get back in the game. We made some big plays.”
SPOTLIGHT ON
Chuka Eneh
By Craig Allen Brown
SPORTS EDITOR
Six-foot-7-inch forward Chuka Eneh has
consistently had to overcome adversity during
his basketball career.
The star player from Woodrow Wilson
High School in Dallas, Texas was originally
recruited by Llorida A&M University. When
the coach he signed on to play for was let
go by the university after one year, Eneh felt
compelled to transfer. After a year at Tyler
Junior College, he made his way to Clark
Atlanta University.
His first two years at CAU were
difficult. The team only managed seven
and nine wins, respectively, for the 2014-2015
and 2015-2016 seasons. More importantly,
Eneh had to come to terms with the death of
his beloved grandmother. His grandmother
raised him, and he credits her with much of
the success he has had in life. “The loss of my
grandmother was one of the biggest obstacles
that I have ever had to deal with,” he said.
Even when the climate changed with
the hire of Coach Darrell Walker, Eneh was
faced with adversity. A hip injury drastically
shortened the amount of time per game that he
was able to participate. Currently, he is dealing
with a thumb injury that requires him to play
with a brace on his shooting hand.
But none of these obstacles have
prevented him from making a significant
difference on the court. Eneh is one of the
Panthers' better shooters; he is currently first on
the team in three-point field goal percentage,
shooting better than 45%. Eneh says that he
patterns his game after athletic big men who
can shoot the basketball, specifically Kevin
Durant and Rudy Gay.
Eneh credits his enrollment at CAU as
being one of the best decisions he has made.
He further credits Coach Walker for changing
the culture of the men’s basketball program into
a winning one. Currently, the Panthers are tied
for first in
the SIAC East.
Eneh hopes to finish the season strong.
He aspires to win the SIAC men’s basketball
tournament, therefore securing a berth in the
National Division II Men’s Tournament.
He takes pride in his ability to work
hard in both the classroom and on the basketball
court, despite the obstacles he’s faced in life.
He wants to continue to strive for success as a
part of the CAU men’s program, and desires
to see the student body and alumni become
equally excited about their chance.
“Everybody should come out and
support us,” he said. “We can definitely use it.”
Chuka Eneh
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