ELIZABETH CITY, NC- The Vikings Men's basketball team held off Claflin University in a 60-57 win Thursday night in the R.L. Vaughan Center.

The Vikings start the season off with a 5-1 record for the first time since 2012.
 
The Bears fall to 1-3 on the season.
 
Senior forward Joseph Allen (Miami Gardens, FL) captured his third consecutive double-double finishing with 16 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Vikings on offense and defense. Freshman guard Phillip Burwell (Raleigh, NC) followed up with 14 points, while junior guard Justin Faison (Waldorf, MD) added 11 points for the Vikings. 

The Panthers were offensively led by Brandon Davis with 17 points and defensively led by Cornellius Reynolds with seven points and seven rebounds.

"As a leader of this team, I know when it's time to step up and make an impact to help secure the win," shared Allen. "This is just the beginning of an awesome season, I can't do it without my teammates." 

ECSU shot 44.4 percent from the field, 35.7 percent from behind the arc, and 58.3 percent at the line.
 
Claflin shot 42.9 percent from the field, 25 percent from behind the arc, and 64.7 percent at the line.
 
The Vikings opened up the contest  knocking down back to back three-pointers from Faison and junior guard Zacchaues Hobbs (Maysville, NC).
 
ECSU went on a 15-4  in the opening half giving the Vikings a 23-11 lead at the 9:34 mark, but a 13-0 run by Claflin left the Vikings trailing the Panthers 26-23 with 4:13 left to play in the opening half.
 
Both teams battled it out for the remainder of the half, but a nearly half court three-pointer at the Buzzer from Burwellgave the Vikings momentum going into halftime as they trailed Claflin 32-28.
 
ECSU outscored Claflin 32-25 in a tight second half of action.
 
The final five minutes of the second half endured two ties before the Vikings were able to secure the 60-57 victory at the line with a pair of free throws from junior forward Shykeef Daniels (Greenville, NC).

The Vikings will be back in action on Tuesday in the R.L. Vaughan Center to take on the Broncos of Fayetteville  University Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.