LAKELAND, Fla. - The Saint Leo University men's basketball team returned to Lakeland on Saturday night as the Lions took on the Panthers of Clark Atlanta University on the final day of the Century Retail Thanksgiving Classic hosted by #12 Florida Southern. Saint Leo closed out back-to-back games with a 72-65 loss to Clark Atlanta. Saint Leo dropped consecutive games for the first time this season and falls to 4-3 overall.

Eric Jones (12) and Tae Wilson (10) led the Lions offense with double-digit points. Wilson recorded a second consecutive double-double as he brought down 12 rebounds for a second straight game.  
 
CLARK ATLANTA 72, SAINT LEO 65

• Saint Leo's shooting cooled significantly in the second half, hitting only 29.7% from the field and 17.4% from three-point range, compared to 46.4% and 43.8% respectively in the first half.
• Clark Atlanta out-rebounded Saint Leo 43-37, with a decisive 11 offensive rebounds that generated crucial second-chance points.
• Despite Eric Jones's team-high 12 points and Tae Wilson's double-double (10 points, 12 rebounds), Saint Leo struggled to find a consistent scoring rhythm.
• The Lions committed 12 turnovers, leading to 10 points for Clark Atlanta. Several of these turnovers occurred at critical moments late in the game.
• Saint Leo shot just 40% from the free-throw line (6-of-15), compared to Clark Atlanta's 73.7% (14-of-19), a factor that proved costly in a close contest.
• Clark Atlanta closed the game on a strong note, extending their lead with critical free throws and a fast-break dunk in the final seconds.
• The Lions were outscored 38-20 in the paint, with Clark Atlanta's Martez Jones dominating inside, contributing 21 points and 12 rebounds.
• After hitting 7 three-pointers in the first half, Saint Leo managed only 4 in the second, despite taking 23 attempts.
• Saint Leo's bench provided 21 points, but Clark Atlanta's starters carried their team, with four players scoring in double digits.
• The game saw seven lead changes and seven ties, but Clark Atlanta seized control midway through the second half and never relinquished it.

 
UP NEXT
Saint Leo returns home for a pair of SSC contests against local opponents to open the final month of 2024. Eckerd (Dec. 4) and Tampa (Dec. 6) will each make a trip the Bowman Center in the first week of December.