ATLANTA – Jordan Smith scored 20 points to help lead the Benedict College Tigers to an 80-67 victory over Clark Atlanta University on Thursday night and their sixth consecutive victory.

The Tigers improved to 14-6 overall and 9-2 in the SIAC. Clark Atlanta fell to 5-14 overall and 3-7 in the SIAC.

Brennan Reynard added 14 points, while Rydealous Taylor chipped in 13 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Lafonzo Smith added 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Derek Harper led the Panthers with 17 points.

Clark Atlanta led 17-10 after the first six minutes of play, but the Tigers scored the next 10 points for a 20-17 lead. Benedict broke a 23-23 tie on a 3-pointer by Jordan Smith and the Tigers never trailed again. Benedict led 37-29 at the half.

In the second half, Clark Atlanta cut the lead to 43-38 with 16:06 to play, the closest the Panthers would get. Benedict responded with the next seven points for a 50-38 lead after a layup by Christopher Spencer. The Tigers used another 7-0 run for a 57-41 lead with 11:41 left to play. Clark Atlanta cut the lead to nine points three times in the final four minutes, the final time with 1:13 left to play. Reynard scored the next four points for the Tigers and Benedict held on for the victory.

Benedict shot 44.9 percent, while holding Clark Atlanta to 36.9 percent shooting.

The Tigers are back in action on Saturday against rival Claflin in Orangeburg. Gametime is 8 p.m.