GREENVILLE - Claflin University met the University of the District of Columbia Saturday in the fourth annual HBCU Classic at Southside High School and fell in overtime 57-54.

Willie Shaw scored a game-high 22 points, Charlie Smallwood had 13 points and Frank Peterson contributed 10 points for the Firebirds.

The Panthers were led by Jerome Starr with 18 points, followed by Casey Jackson with 13 and Ernest Sinkfield with 11.

Claflin University held a 29-19 halftime advantage before the Firebirds came out of the locker room on fire as they went on an 11-5 run to cut the Panther lead to 31-30 with 12:34 left.

Sinkfield answered the run with a three-pointer for a 34-30 Panther lead at the 11:53 mark. After the Firebirds tied the game at 36-36 with 9:34 remaining in regulation, it stayed deadlocked for the next 2:02.

The Panthers forged ahead 42-39 with 3:36 left in regulation. Two free throws by Sinkfield made the score 44-39, with 2:43 remaining. UDC came right back and made two free throws and converted a Panther steal into two points to cut the lead to 46-45, with 1:03 left.

Claflin’s Starr made one of two free throws for a 47-45 lead, but UDC#,s Frank Peterson answered with a field goal to tie the contest 47-47. Jerome Starr went to the basket hard, but his soft shot rimmed out as time expired in regulation.

The Panthers drew first blood in overtime on a driving lay-up by Casey Jackson, only to have Smallworth answer with a three-pointer to make it 50-49. With the scored tied at 51-51 with 2:34 left, the Firebirds got consecutive baskets from Shaw and Peterson to go up 55-51 with 29 seconds left.

A three-point play by Jackson cut UDC’s lead to 55-54, but Donald Walker converted two free throws to close out the scoring with three seconds left. Claflin got a look at a game-tying shot, but the three-point attempt at the buzzer was short.

The Claflin men’s basketball team return home for a Monday game against Fort Valley State at 8 p.m.

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