Tip-off to Saturday’s game at the Jonas T. Kennedy Center was only minutes away when Claflin men’s basketball coach Ron Woodard got guard Eric Salley’s attention.

A win over visiting Albany State would give the Panthers a share of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title and top seed in the upcoming conference tournament. On a roster with plenty of senior leadership, Woodard placed the onus of victory on his redshirt sophomore.

“I told him earlier this morning at shootaround this game was really based on how well he played defense and how well he produced offensively,” Woodard said.

With three steals and a team-high 17 points, including two key free throws with 15.7 seconds left, Salley helped deliver a 59-55 victory and a SIAC title in the program’s first full season in Division II.

It was the sixth straight win and 13th in the last 14 games for Claflin (22-2, 21-2). The Panthers led by as many as 12 points in the second half, only to see the Golden Rams (12-14) whittle it down to within a single point with 20.9 seconds remaining.

After Albany State’s Antonio Steele made 1-2 free throws, he fouled Salley following the rebound. Salley connected on both free throws to put Claflin up 58-55.

As the Golden Rams’ Sean Glenn dribbled upcourt, he was trapped by the Panthers and threw an errant pass intercepted by Claflin’s David Cobb. He was prompted fouled with 4.2 seconds left and made 1-2 free throws to give the Panthers 22 points off 17 Albany State turnovers and make the 303 home fans in attendance witnesses to school history.

“It is an historical moment to have in your first year (as a full Division II member),” Woodard said. “The word ‘inauguration’ is a great word for us this year and really for America. So, our inauguration season has been a good one and we just hope to keep it right where it is.”

A three-pointer by Salley ignited a 12-0 run to open the game for the Panthers. Showing the tenacity exhibited in a 71-63 win over defending SIAC champion Benedict College on Tuesday, the Golden Rams responded with a 14-2 run to tie the game.

Jamell Ellerbe accounted for eight straight points during the run, including two of his four three-pointers, in finishing with 17 points.

Ernest Sinkfield answered with two straight three-pointers of his own to regain the lead for Claflin. After the Panthers increased their lead to 11 points with 6:18 remaining, the Golden Rams rallied to within three wins when Sinkfield’s third three-pointer of the game at the buzzer made it a 30-24 halftime score.

Sinkfield was held to just one free throw in the second half to finish with 10 points.

The second half exhibited the same pattern as the Panthers kept trying to put the Golden Rams away. Even after back-to-back three-pointers by Phillip Brown and Salley put Claflin ahead 43-31, Albany State continued to fight back.

After Jamaal Newman fouled out with 1:55 left, the Golden Rams scored five unanswered points to make it 56-54 with 20.9 seconds left. Following a Claflin miss, Steele was fouled grabbing the rebound and had a chance to tie the game with two free throws.

He made the first attempt, but missed the second attempt, which opened the door for Claflin to seal the victory.

The Panthers can head into Wednesday’s regular-season finale at home against Miles College with extra motivation. Not only can Claflin avenge its only other conference loss, but clinch the SIAC crown outright.

“They gave us our first ‘L’ and we haven’t been able to shake that taste out of our mouth,” Woodard said. “We need to pack the house for that. I hope we can get everybody in the city of Orangeburg to come and watch the show.”

CLAFLIN (59)

Eric Salley 17, Ernest Sinkfield 10, David Cobb 9, Karl Ray 7, Phillip Brown 5, Benjamin Lawmann 4, Rafael Clyburn 4, Jamaal Newman 3

ALBANY STATE (55)

Jamell Ellerbe 17, Ryan Chester 12, Oscar Morris 8, Antonio Steele 6, Jawan Bailey 4, Sean Glenn 4, Scheraun King 2, Josay King 2

Women’s basketball

Claflin 77, Albany State 61

The day could not have gone any more perfect for the Pantherettes’ Lasaundra Barron.

Not only did the former Orangeburg-Wilkinson product post a career high in points, she did so without missing a shot. Barron made all nine of her field goal attempts and two free throws in finishing with 20 points and five rebounds.

She was joined for team-high honors by Ashley Sorrell-Gibson, who also had 20 points. Also scoring in double figures were Tiffany Smalls with 12 points and five rebounds and Jayshaun Bailey with 11 points, four rebounds and four steals.

Leading 35-30 at halftime, Claflin (13-11, 13-11) broke open the game with a 21-9 run in the first eight minutes of the second half. The Pantherettes pushed the lead as high as 25 points following back-to-back layups by Barron and finished the game making 9-10 free throws.

Nafeesha Frost led the Lady Golden Rams (11-15, 11-10) with 19 points, followed by Alexis Adams with 11.

n T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories on-line at TheTandD.com.

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