‘Redemption’ win puts Clinton’s men in national title game for Christian College league

Playing for a spot in a national basketball championship game brings a unique layer of intensity. Playing a team that recently beat you raises the intensity exponentially.

Clinton College’s men overcame all that Thursday night.

After going down by 10 points midway through the first half, Clinton battled back to beat the University of Fort Lauderdale 71-64.

What’s next for the small Historically Black College in Rock Hill, S.C.?

They will play in the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I men’s national championship game against top-seeded Bethel University (Ind.). Clinton is the No. 3 seed.

The game is scheduled to tip off at 5 p.m. March 18 in Winona Lake, Ind. The game will be streamed at nccaanetwork.com

The University of Fort Lauderdale had beaten Clinton 82-78 in the NCCAA South Regional conference championship on March 3.

Most would call Thursday night a revenge game. The Golden Bears, however, used a different term.

“This was our redemption,” head coach Cory Sloan said. “In the regional game, they didn’t beat us. We beat us. So for us, this was us redeeming ourselves.”

Six-foot-three guard Paul Eromosele led the Golden Bears with 15 points, while York County, S.C., native Cameron Shannon had 12 points and nine rebounds.

Clinton now has a 21-2 record this year and, for much of the year, has scored more than 100 points per game.

Clinton came from 12-points down to defeat Asbury College (Kentucky) on Wednesday.

“It just goes to show what kind of guys I have in the locker room,” Sloan said. “They’re just able to continue fighting. They don’t get down on themselves. We’ve been down by a lot in other games all year, and we’ve been in situations to kind of guide where we want to be. It’s just trusting each other and playing together. We’re one big, ol’ family.”

The Clinton College faculty and students are part of that family, and relishing what’s happeningy. The school hosted a watch party for the semifinal game, and at times, it seemed louder in the viewing room than in the arena. It was the second on-campus event this week.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling,” Clinton College President Dr. Lester McCorn said. “I’m just so happy for Clinton College and the team. I think these guys deserve this kind of attention in a national tournament.”

This story was originally published March 17, 2023 at 8:32 AM.