ORANGEBURG. S.C. | Claflin University scored 44 points in the paint as the Panthers defeated Young Harris College 76-62 in a non-conference men's basketball game at Tullis Arena Saturday (Nov. 18) afternoon.

The Panthers, who led wire-to-wire, improved to 2-1, while the Mountain Lions fell to 1-3. Young Harris opens its home schedule against Claflin Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. in the YHC Basketball Arena.

Claflin jumped out to a 14-4 lead after a steal and layup by Benjamin Williams with 14:30 left in the first half. The Panthers pushed their lead to as many as 14 points (22-8) in the opening half before the Mountain Lions used a 9-0 run to trim the margin down to two points (26-24) with 6:03 to go on a layup from Antonio Wade.

The Panthers, who led 36-31 at the half, started the second half with a 10-2 run to open up a 13-point lead (46-33) on a Danny Borwn layup with 17:33 left. Again the Mountain Lions would whittle away at the deficit until they got within two points (53-51) after a Wade three-pointer with 11:24 left.

Claflin, which shot 48.5 percent (32-of-66) from the floor, thwarted the comeback as Borwn hit a pair of layups on the next two Panther possessions.That started a 13-4 run by Claflin as the Panthers took a 66-55 lead on a Albert Miller layup with 7:15 to play.  The closest the Mountain Lions, who shot 39.1 percent (18-of-46) from the field,  would get the rest of the way was nine points.

Williams led the Panthers with 18 points, while Jaleel Charles and Borwn each contributed 14 apiece. Charles also tallied seven rebounds and five blocked shots.

Wade paced the Mountain Lions with 17 points, while Nicksen Blanc had 14 and Ben Waterhouse added 12 more. Blanc led the Mountain Lions with seven rebounds, while J.B. Charles had six.