BIRMINGHAM, Ala . (SIAC) — Clark Atlanta won the 2017 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) Men’s Basketball Tournament championship with a 64-62 win over Fort Valley State on Saturday evening at Bill Harris Arena.
With four seconds remaining Clark Atlanta’s Chuka Eneh hit a game-winning three pointer from Anthony Williams to lead the Panthers to its first tournament title victory since 2011.
Three players from Clark Atlanta finished in double-figure scoring as it was led by Tim Sanders who finished with a game-high 16 points. Sanders was also named the 2017 SIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Most Valuable Player. Lawrence Triplett and Williams each finished with 13 points and five rebounds. Tajai Johnson grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
In his first season with the Panthers, head coach Darrell Walker was named the 2017 SIAC Men’s Basketball Coach of the Tournament.
Jalen Crawford led the Wildcats with 12 points ahead of James Barnes who finished with nine points. Barnes led all players in rebounds with 12 ahead of teammate Denard Williams who finished with 11. Fort Valley ended the season 12-18 overall.
Clark Atlanta (21-11 overall) will represent the SIAC in the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Division II Championship beginning on Friday, March 10. Selections for the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Division II Championship will be announced at 10:30 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, March 5 via web stream on NCAA.com.
2017 SIAC Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team
Tim Sanders, Clark Atlanta — MVP
James Barnes — Fort Valley State
Brandon Morris — Benedict
Quayshun Hawkins — Benedict
Rashawn Brown — LeMoyne-Owen
Darrell Walker, Clark Atlanta — Coach of the Tournament
