Men's Basketball

Clayton State basketball adds
Maxi Rios to 2004 recruiting class

Morrow, GA --- July 8, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University’s men’s basketball program added another top recruit to its 2004-05 squad, recently signing Maxi Rios to a letter of intent for the upcoming season.

A 6-foot-1 point guard, Rios originally signed to play at Division I Mercer University last season before returning home to San Nicolas, Argentina. He will join the Lakers as a junior after starring at Middle Georgia College in Cochran, GA, for head coach Scott Moe. He was named to the 2002-03 NJCAA All-America honorable mention team and to the first team All-Region squad.

“We are excited to complete our recruiting with an experienced guard of Maxi’s caliber,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons, one of the all-time winningest coaches at the Division II level. “He will fit in great with our returning players and new recruits.”

Rios averaged 16 points, eight assists and three steals per game for head coach Scott Moe in the 2002-03 season. He led MGC, a team ranked in the NJCAA national poll for eight weeks, to a 26-7 record and an appearance in the Region XVII championship game against Georgia Perimeter College.

He had four “double-doubles” in conference play during the 2002-03 campaign, including a 26-point, 10-assist effort in an overtime victory over the nation’s third-ranked team in Georgia Perimeter. Rios also had a 29-point, 11-assist game against South Georgia Tech, a 26-point, 12-assist performance against Atlanta Metro and a 21-point and 10-assist game in another meeting against South Georgia.

Rios is the third signee for the Lakers, joining Division I transfer T.J. Waldon and high school signee Michael Sloan. A 6-foot-5 forward, Waldon transfers to Clayton State after two seasons of play at Old Dominion University in Virginia, while Sloan was a standout at Lovejoy High School, in Lovejoy, GA.

Waldon played in the Monarch rotation as a freshman and a sophomore, averaging over 10 minutes per game, shooting 57 percent from the field. He led Kathleen High School to a Florida state championship in 2001, as well as being named the 4A championship Most Valuable Player, to the first team All-State squad and a finalist for the 2001 Florida “Mr. Basketball” award.

Sloan joins the Lakers after leading Lovejoy to three straight state tournaments. He finished his career second in scoring at the school, trailing only Jason Floyd, who went on to play at Georgia Tech.

Clayton State finished the 2003-04 season with a 22-8 record and is positioned to make another run at the Peach Belt Conference championship, a league that returns the defending NCAA Division II national champion. The Lakers have averaged 20 wins in the last three seasons and finished in the top five in the 12-team Peach Belt each season, which includes winning the 2001-02 PBC title.

CCSU is a four-year school and a member of the University System of Georgia. The university is located in Morrow, GA, 15 miles south of Atlanta, GA.

##CCSU##

Clayton State signs Old Dominion transfer
T.J. Waldon to basketball scholarship

Morrow, GA --- May 27, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University’s men’s basketball program added another prized recruit to its 2004-05 squad, recently signing former Old Dominion player T.J. Waldon to play for the Lakers.

A 6-foot-5 forward, Waldon transfers to Clayton State after two seasons of play at the NCAA Division I school in Virginia. He played in the Monarch rotation as a freshman and a sophomore, averaging over 10 minutes per game, shooting 57 percent from the field.

“T.J. brings experience, versatility and a winning attitude to our team,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. “He is a young man I watched grow up as a four-year starter in high school in Lakeland, FL. T.J. is a major addition to our program.”

Waldon led Kathleen High School to a Florida state championship in 2001. He was named the 4A championship Most Valuable Player, named to the first team All-State squad and was a finalist for the 2001 Florida “Mr. Basketball” award.

At ODU, Waldon was an important contributor in his two seasons. His top game came last year came against William & Mary, a three-point win, as he scored eight points and pulled eight rebounds in 22 minutes of play. He had five rebounds, two assists and a steal in a three-point loss to St. Joseph’s, a squad that was ranked in the top-5 for most of the 2003-04 season and finished with a 30-2 record.

In addition, he had six points, four assists and two steals against Virginia Military, six points and two rebounds against Hofstra and four points and five rebounds versus Towson last year.

He played in 27 games and helped lead Old Dominion to a 17-12 record last year and fourth place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association. As a freshman, he had a season high seven points versus Drexel and a season high seven rebounds against Campbell.

The Lakers finished the 2003-04 season with a 22-8 record and are positioned to make another run at the Peach Belt Conference championship, a league that returns the defending NCAA Division II national champion. Clayton State has averaged 20 wins over the last three seasons and finished in the top five in the 12-team Peach Belt each season, which includes winning the 2001-02 PBC title.

Waldon is the second signee for Clayton State men’s basketball, as the Lakers signed Lovejoy High School standout Michael Sloan after a stellar high school career. Sloan finished second in career scoring at LHS, trailing only Jason Floyd, who went on to play at Georgia Tech. He led the Lovejoy program to three straight state tournaments.

Clayton State, a NCAA Division II program, is a four-year school and a member of the University System of Georgia. The university is located in Morrow, GA, 10 miles south of Atlanta, GA.

##CCSU##

Lovejoy H.S. standout Michael Sloan signs to
play basketball at Clayton State

Story from the Clayton News Daily
MORROW, GA --- April 16, 2004 --- When Gordon Gibbons came to Clayton State as head coach of the men’s basketball team three years ago, one of his goals was to start signing high school players.

Wednesday, Lovejoy’s Michael Sloan became Gibbons’ first Atlanta-area high school signee.

Sloan comes to Clayton State after a stellar career at Lovejoy High School where he left as the school’s second-leading scorer, trailing only Jason Floyd, who went on to play at Georgia Tech.

“When I came to Clayton State three seasons ago as we were trying to build the program into a national contender we had to take veteran players whether they were Division I transfers or junior college players,” said Gibbons. “This year, we wanted to sign a quality high school player from Georgia who can come in and fit in as a freshman. We’re excited about it.”

Sloan looks forward to playing for Gibbons, who has turned Clayton State’s basketball program around since coming to the school in 2001.

“I’m very excited about that because he’s one of the winningest coaches of all time,” said Sloan. “I just want to be a part of it. It’s close to home and I can get a good education.”

Sloan was a key part of a Lovejoy team that made state three years in a row from 2002-04.

“This year, he became a complete player," former Lovejoy head coach Mac McConnell said. " Some nights he wasn’t the leading scorer but he had assists and did what he had to do to help the team. He was a good team player this year and made the players around him better.”

Gibbons feels like Sloan can make an immediate impact on the team.

“He has a sophisticated game and that will help him fit in with older college players,” said Gibbons. “He’s a real nice addition the team. He’s really our first Atlanta-area signee since we’ve been here and we’re excited about it.”
Even though Sloan is the first Atlanta-area signee for Gibbons at Clayton State, he won’t be the first Clayton County guy to play for Gibbons.

Former Mt. Zion High School standout Lamar Rodgers completed his senior season at Clayton State this year. Rodgers’ freshman season was in 2000-01, former head coach Jimmy Hebron’s final year.

Clayton State enjoyed its second-best season ever in 2003-04, going 22-8. The Lakers made it to the semifinals of the Peach Belt Conference, losing to Kennesaw State. The Owls eventually went on to the win the PBC tournament and the NCAA Division II national championship.

Puckett named to 03-04 All-PBC team

MORROW, GA --- March 10, 2004 --- For the third year in a row, the Clayton College & State University’s men’s basketball team had a player recognized on the Peach Belt All-Conference team.

B.J. Puckett, a 6-foot-9 junior post from Auburn, GA, was named to the All-PBC team after leading the squad in scoring and ranking second in rebounding. Puckett becomes the third straight Laker named to the squad, as Kareen Harris was named All-Peach Belt in 2000-01 and Jamal Johnson received the honor last year.

“B.J. had a fine season for us,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons. “We are proud to receive this recognition for our team. With his continued hard work, he will help our team compete for championships next year.”

Puckett started all 30 games for the Lakers and finished the season averaging 13 points and six rebounds per game. He also led the team with 30 blocks and shot a team-leading 54 percent from the field and 75 percent from the free throw line.

His top game came in a win over the State University of West Georgia, scoring 20 points and pulling nine boards. He had a season high 22 points in a victory over Peach Belt Conference opponent Georgia College & State University. Puckett pulled a season high 14 rebounds in a win over Albany State University to go along with 17 points.

B.J. ranked in the top 15 in the Peach Belt in scoring, eighth in rebounding and field goal percentage, 10^th in blocked shots and 12^th in free throw percentage. He finished the season with 22 double-digit scoring games, including six “doubles-doubles.” He led the team in scoring nine times on the season.

Clayton State NCAA Tournament hopes burst; season ends with 22-8 record, second best in school history

Morrow, GA --- March 8, 2004 --- Despite winning 22 games, the second most in school history, Clayton College & State University men's basketball had its NCAA Division II National Tournament hopes burst Sunday.

The Lakers received word late Sunday evening that they will not be one of the eight teams, out of the South Atlantic Region, in the 64-team Division II Tournament, despite only three of the eight teams from the South Atlantic Region having more than the Lakers' 22 wins.

“We are disappointed, thought we put ourselves in position to make it by advancing to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals with two wins,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons. “In Division II, you need to win games to get off the bubble. I guess the committee had to make a very tough decision to keep us out with 22 wins.”

Kennesaw State will advance to the tournament after winning the PBC Tournament on Sunday, while Francis Marion, Columbus State and Armstrong State made the field as at-large teams from the PBC.

Also from the South Atlantic Region, Bowie State received the automatic bid by winning the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament, and Virginia Union will go as an at-large team from the CIAA. Catawba, with a 12-18 record, shocked the South Atlantic Conference by winning its tournament and will receive the SAC’s automatic bid, while Lenior-Rhyne received an at-large from the SAC despite losing five of its last eight games.

Clayton State fell in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament semifinals Saturday to eventual champion KSU 43-39 in a defensive showdown. The Lakers opened the PBC tournament with a 90-56 win over UNC Pembroke, followed by a 66-42 win in the quarterfinals over host Augusta State.

“It’s especially tough after the effort our players gave against Kennesaw State in the semifinals,” said Gibbons. “That game was a war. Both teams deserved to win.”

CCSU closed the season, playing some its best basketball winning five of its last seven games with its two losses coming to sixth-ranked KSU. The suffocating Laker defense was impressive, holding its last six opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the field. Only one of the squad’s last seven opponents scored 57 points or more.

Clayton State’s 22 wins are the second most in school history and the third time in the program’s 14 years that it has won 20-or more games in a season. Clayton State had a 21-13 record in 1994-95 and a 25-7 record in 1993-94, while competing in the NAIA.

#6 KSU Survives Defensive Duel with CCSU 43-39
Lakers to await word on whether they will earn an at-large NCAA bid

AUGUSTA, GA -- The sixth-ranked Kennesaw State Owls (28-4) converted all four of their free throws attempts in the final 26.2 seconds to break a 39-39 tie and pull out the 43-39 win over Clayton State (22-8) on Saturday night in the semifinal round of the 2004 Peach Belt Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Christenberry Fieldhouse. KSU wins its 19th straight game and advances to Sunday’s championship game versus Columbus State at 4:30 PM.

It is the third consecutive finals appearance for the Owls who are seeking their first ever tournament title. The game will be carried live on CSS television. Clayton State will now wait to see if 22 wins is enough to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA South Atlantic Regional.

“This team is madeup of warriors,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons. “We were totally ready for this game. We wanted the tempo to be that tempo. This was a war.”

Said KSU head coach Tony Ingle, “It was a hard-fought game by both teams. We feel very fortunate to win. They came to play, but our guys responded, I’m very proud.”

Clayton State opened up a 16-9 lead with 7:16 to play in the first half on a Craig Butts’ jumper. KSU connected on just 3-of-17 shots from the field in falling behind by seven, the largest lead of the game for either team. The Owls shot 21.4 percent in the first stanza on 6-of-28 from the field.

The Owls used a 5-0 run to draw within a bucket at 16-14 with 4:03 left until half on Reggie McCoy’s basket. McCoy finished with four points and a game-high 10 boards. But the Lakers scored six of the half’s final eight points to take a 22-16 advantage at the break.

In the second half, Kennesaw State out scored the Lakers 16-4 through the first 11 minutes of play capped by Cardale Talley’s bucket in the paint with 8:44 on the clock as the Owls claimed their largest lead of the game 32-26.

Carlton Holmes drained a floater in the paint with the shot clock winding down and 5:18 on the game clock to knot it back up at 34-34. After KSU pulled ahead 39-34, Clayton State again battled back to even things up at 39-39. Darien Chavis drilled a 17-footer from near the top of the key with two ticks on the shot clock to tie the game with 1:00 to play.

After Hill’s two charity tosses with 26.2 remaining, Chavis slashed to the basket, but his game tying shot fell off the rim, Georgy Joseph grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 1.4 to play. Joseph converted both free throws to ice the game. Prior to the final minute of play, Hill was 0-of-4 from the stripe and the Owls were just 4-of-11.

Hill and Joseph were the only two players to record double digits, finishing with 11 and 10 respectively. Butts’ eight points and six boards led Clayton State.

Kennesaw State finished 16-of-51 from the field for 31.4 percent while Clayton State was 15-of-41 for 36.6 percent.

AUGUSTA, GA -- Clayton College & State University took advantage of 20 Augusta State University turnovers and placed five players in double figures to come away with a 66-42 victory over the host Jaguars Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Conference Tournament at the Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Augusta State (11-17) used an early 6-0 run to take a 9-4 lead at the 16:24 mark, but Clayton State (22-7) rallied with a 10-0 run of its own over the next five minutes, capped by a B.J. Puckett jumper, to take a 14-9 advantage. The Lakers slowly began to stretch things out and took a seven point lead at 26-19 on Leon Parker’s bucket with 3:10 to play. Clayton State would go into the locker room at halftime with its largest lead of the half at 30-21.

“Today’s game was what we’re all about,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons. “We’re built on defense, built on depth. “They have great shooters, so our defense was really stretched, but we played as well as we can play. When we play good on defense it gives us confidence on offensive.”

Said Augusta State coach Gary Tuell. “They’re awfully good, physical, bumping and grinding team. And when the game is allowed to be played physically, it favors the bigger, stronger team.”

With the win, the Lakers advance to Saturday’s 8 p.m. semifinal to take on PBC Regular Season Champion Kennesaw State University.

“Kennesaw State is the best rebounding team I’ve seen in my 13 years of coaching at Division II, said Gibbons. “And at another school I coached against Virginia Union’s team with Ben Wallace. They’re a great rebounding team and pressure defense is a great part of their offense. We have to rebound and handle their pressure.”

Clayton State shot only 37% (10-27) from the floor in the first frame, but Augusta State wasn’t much better, hitting only 35.3% (6-17) from the floor. The Jaguars also hurt themselves with 10 turnovers in the first half. Kevin Young, Jason Byrd and Craig Butts led Clayton State with 5 points apiece in the low scoring half. Patrick Curran led Augusta State with 8 points at the break.

“When we gain confidence through our defense, it changes our opponent’s mentality into knowing they can’t score against us,” said Gibbons.

The Lakers stretched the lead out to double digits five minutes into the second half on Byrd’s lay-up to give Clayton State a 36-25 lead. Clayton State blew the game open with an 8-0 run which was capped by another bucket from Parker to build a 48-32 lead with only 4:25 remaining. The Jaguars would not get closer than ten points the rest of the way as the Lakers continued to translate turnovers into points.

Clayton State shot 46% (23-50) from the floor, including 56.5% (13-23) in the second half, while Augusta State shot only 39.5% (15-38) from the floor. The Jaguars were hurting their own cause with 20 turnovers, while the Lakers took care of the basketball with only 9 turnovers in the game.

Young led Clayton State with 12 points, while Byrd, Butts, Puckett and Parker added 10 points apiece in the win. Curran led Augusta State with 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Lakers pound UNC Pembroke in first round of PBC tournament Wed.; to play host Augusta State on Fri.

Augusta, GA – March 3, 2004 --- Senior forward Craig Butts scored 17 points to lead a hot-shooting Clayton College & State University squad to an easy 90-56 win over UNC Pembroke in the final first-round game of the 2004 Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball tournament, Wednesday night (March 3) in Augusta, Ga.

The Lakers (21-7), seeded third in the South Division, advance to face Augusta State University (11-16) in the quarterfinals, Friday at 8 p.m. UNCP, the sixth seed from the North Division, ends its season 3-25.

Following Butts, CCSU center B.J. Puckett tallied 14 points and reserve guard Rashad Williams added 12 points. Butts also led the Lakers with seven rebounds.

Senior forward Damien Goodman led UNCP with 19 points, while center Travis Wallace tallied 16 points and five rebounds.

Clayton State scored the game’s opening seven points and never trailed. The Braves trimmed the margin to 14-9 on a fast break basket by Goodman with 11:36 left before halftime, but the Lakers responded with a 13-0 run that produced a 27-9 advantage. The lead would grow to 21 points at 43-22 before Wallace threw in a 79-foot shot at the first-half horn, the longest shot in the history of the PBC Tournament.

“One thing we wanted to was to get out of the box early,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. “Looking at the games today, you don’t want to let a team like that hang around. We played with a lot of energy and were efficient in our press. We were able to execute and get easy shots, we got a good spread. They were tired in the second half.”

Said UNC Pembroke coach Bryan Garmroth. “They’re a lot more talented and a lot tougher than we are. That leads to a 50-point loss.”

Laker guard Kevin Young opened the second-stanza scoring with a three-pointer and UNC Pembroke never got closer than 19 points the remainder of the game. Clayton State connected on 21 of 30 field goal attempts (70.0 percent) in the final 20 minutes and led by as many as 40 points, at 84-44.

“A team like that has had a season like that has nothing to lose,” said Laker guard Kevin Young. “We played pretty hard and that led to a lot of easy buckets.”

Morrow, GA --- February 28, 2004 --- It was “Senior Night 2004” Saturday at Clayton College & State University’s Athletics & Fitness Center and the signature Laker defense reigned supreme on the special evening.

Clayton State blasted Peach Belt Conference foe Georgia College & State University 68-36, capturing its 20^th win on the season, the first time the program has won 20 games in nine years. The victory also tied the team for third place in the PBC South Division with a 10-6 record.

The Lakers tied with Armstrong State for third place in the Division but will receive the No. 3 seed from the South Division in next week’s PBC tournament, holding the tiebreaker advantage over the Pirates.

CCSU will face the sixth-seeded team from the North Division in the University of North Carolina Pembroke, who will enter the event with a 3-24 overall record and a 2-14 mark in the league. The game will tipoff at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6^th at Augusta State’s Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The Clayton State defense paved the way to Saturday’s win, as the squad allowed only 36 points to the Bobcats the fewest points allowed to a Laker opponent in six seasons, as the 1998 team allowed only 29 points to Allen for the school record. Clayton State’s defense held the Bobcats to 28 percent (14-of-51) from the floor, the lowest of any opponent this season.

CCSU raced out to a double-digit lead three minutes into the game and led 13-3 with 16:46 remaining as senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) scored on a layup. Clayton State pushed its lead to 20 points at the 11:47 mark on a jumper by senior Stephen Cox (Peachtree City, GA).

The Lakers led 36-19 at halftime and had their lead trimmed to 12 points in the first five minutes of the second half with a 9-4 run by the Bobcats. A jumper by GC&SU’s Duke Gibbs cut the margin to 40-28 with 15:23 remaining.

Clayton State answered, however, and went on massive run, outrscoring the Bobcats 28-6 in the final 15 minutes of the game. Senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) gave the Lakers a 20-point lead at the 10:25 mark and a jumper by sophomore Donte Dawson (Thomaston, GA) gave the Lakers 30-point lead with 1:51 remaining.

Senior Lamar Rodgers (Jonesboro, GA) led the scoring with 12 points, coming on four three-pointers. Juniors Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) and B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) each had double-doubles, as Puckett had 10 points and 11 rebounds and Puckett had 10 points and 10 boards.

Byrd chipped in nine points to go along with six boards. Butts had a game high four blocks and junior Rashad Williams (St. Petersburg, FL) had a game high five assists.

For GC&SU, Jeff Tarver finished with 10 points, while John Thomas had seven points and 11 rebounds.

The Lakers shot 42 percent from the floor (27-of-64), 46 percent from three-point land (5-of-11) and 64 percent (9-of-14) from the free throw line. Besides hitting only 28 percent from the floor, the Bobcats hit only 16 percent (3-of-19) from three-point land and 31 percent from the line (5-of-16).

Clayton State had decisive 50-31 edge on the boards and committed 15 turnovers compared to 18 for GC&SU.

Game Stats
Kennesaw, GA --- February 25, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team dropped a tough one Wednesday to its biggest rival, falling 80-73 to metro-Atlanta foe and 10^th-ranked Kennesaw State University at the Spec Landrum Centre in Kennesaw, GA.

Kennesaw State won the contest with its work on the boards and at free throw line. The Owls outrebounded the Lakers 47-27 and had 15 more offensive rebounds than CCSU. The Owls also hit 33-of-47 free throws in the game compared to only 15-of-18 for the Lakers.

Despite KSU’s marked advantage on the boards and at the free throw, Clayton State still had a chance to pull out the victory and led with under 10 minutes remaining in the game, 56-55, on a three pointer by Leon “Manny” Parker (Miami, FL) at the 9:22 mark.

KSU answered in the next three minutes though, and went on a 10-2 run to reclaim the lead. A three-pointer by Rey Luque with 6:23 remaining gave the Owls a seven-point, 65-58 lead.

Luque’s three-pointer was a back breaker for the Lakers, as it immediately followed shot clock violation by the squad. On that possession, Clayton State’s Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) missed within fractions of second of getting off a three-pointer that went in and would have cut the deficit to a single point, 62-61.

The Owls led by at least five points in the final five minutes of the contest. Three-pointers by CCSU’s Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) and Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) cut the deficit to six points, 76-70, with 25 seconds remaining, but that was as close as the Lakers would come as KSU’s Tommy Thompson hit 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final seconds to seal the victory.

With the loss, Clayton State drops to 19-7 on the season and 9-6 in the Peach Belt Conference, while KSU improves to 25-4 on the season and 15-0 in the league. Clayton State will return to the floor on Saturday, February 28th for “Senior Day,” hosting Georgia College & State University in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

The win for KSU sealed at least a share of the 2003-04 PBC regular season title and pushed its winning streak to 16 games, the third longest streak in the country.

Junior B. J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) led Clayton State in the game with 15 points, hitting 5-of-8 from the field. Craig Butts added 12 points, hitting 6-of-9 from the floor, to go along with seven rebounds. Chavis and Young each chipped in 13 points. Byrd had a game high seven assists.

For KSU, Georgy Joseph led all scorers with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Luque added 12 points, including 7-of-8 from the line. Terrence Hill had 11 points and six boards, followed by Cardale Talley with 10 points and five rebounds.

Game Stats
Morrow, GA --- February 21, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University and Augusta State University men’s basketball teams entered Saturday’s Peach Belt Conference game as the No. 2 and No. 3 ranked defensive clubs in the league, and the match-up lived it up to its billing.

Clayton State prevailed 53-42 over Augusta State in a PBC defensive showdown at the Athletics & Fitness Center. The Lakers took control of the game early thanks to their defense, holding the Jaguars to only 16 points in the first half. Neither team shot over 38 percent for the game.

Leading 30-16 at intermission, ASU battled back into the game, opening the second half with six unanswered points, cutting the deficit to 30-24 with 18:01 remaining on a three-pointer by forward Dean Brebner.

The Lakers answered in the next five minutes and re-extended their lead to double-digits, 37-26, with 13:34 remaining on one of two three-pointers by senior Lamar Rodgers (Jonesboro, GA). Clayton State pushed its lead to 13 points, 39-26, three minutes later on a jumper by junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA).

ASU made one late run and a three-pointer by senior forward Patrick Curran cut the Laker lead to nine points, 46-37, with 3:04 remaining. Clayton State sealed the victory in the next two minutes with a 7-1 run. Senior Leon Parker (Miami, FL) drained two free throws to give the Lakers a 15-point advantage, 53-38, with 1:04 remaining.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 19-6 on the season, 9-5 in the Peach Belt Conference and 13-1 at home, while Augusta State drops to 10-15 overall and 8-6 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, traveling to face north metro-Atlanta and PBC rival Kennesaw State in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) led the attack with 11 points and six rebounds, followed by senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) with nine and six boards.

For ASU, Curran had a game high 16 points and 10 rebounds, followed by Brebner with 14 points.

Jacksonville, FL --- February 18, 2004 --- Clayton College & State University’s Gordon Gibbons captured a milestone victory Wednesday in an area he knows, oh so well, the Sunshine State.

The Laker coach won his 300^th Division II game, defeating the University of North Florida 71-57 at UNF Arena in Jacksonville, FL. A coaching legend in the state of Florida for more than 20 years, Gibbons won 246 games in 12 years at Florida Southern College before taking over at Clayton State three years ago where he has won 54 games.

Leading by four points, 49-46, with 4:04 remaining, Lakers went on a 14-4 run over the next three minutes to take control of the game. The squad led 63-50 with 1:19 remaining on a free throw by junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA).

Clayton State extended its lead to as many as 15 points in final minute on a dunk by junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA), two of his game high 16 points. The Lakers hit 6-of-10 free throws in the final three minutes of the game to seal the victory.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 18-6 overall and 8-5 in the Peach Belt. North Florida drops to 12-12 overall and 4-9 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, hosting Augusta State University in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

The Ospreys jumped to a 4-0 lead before the Lakers answered and took a 17-7 lead on a layup by senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) with 12:14 remaining. UNF came back and regained the lead 20-19 with 4:52 remaining on a three-pointer by junior Donny Lotz. Clayton State outscored the Ospreys 6-5 in the final minutes of the period to knot the game at 25 at intermission.

Clayton State picked up the defensive pressure in the second half and led most of the period. The second of two free throws by senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) with 9:19 remaining, capped a 13-2 run, giving the Lakers a 10-point lead 45-35. UNF answered with a run of its own and cut the deficit to three points, 45-42, on the second of two free throws by Jason Grimball.

The Lakers won the game in the second half, hitting a season best 63 percent from the field in the period, draining 12-of-19 shots. Clayton State also capitalized at the free throw line, hitting 74 percent (26-of-35).

Puckett’s 16 points came on 6-of-8 shooting, while senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) finished with 15 points, hitting 7-of-9 from the free throw line and 2-of-2 of from three-point territory. Butts chipped in 11 points.

For the Ospreys, Lotz and Derrick Scott each finished with 16 points, followed by Grimball with 11.

Clayton State captures 17^th win with 74-60 victory over Peach Belt Conference foe GC&SU Saturday

Game Stats
Milledgeville, GA --- February 14, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team relies own its solid defense, and it came through for them again on Saturday in its 17^th win of the season, a 74-60 victory over Peach Belt Conference opponent Georgia College & State University at the Centennial Center in Milledgeville, GA.

Leading 57-54 with 6:33 remaining, the Laker defense held the Bobcats to only one basket in the final six minutes of the game, outscoring GC&SU 17-6 down the stretch. The Clayton State defense also forced three of the Bobcats’ 24 turnovers in the game-deciding spurt.

Junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) ignited the Laker run on offense, draining two three-pointers in a minute. His first three-pointer gave the Lakers a 62-54 lead with 4:35 remaining, followed by him hitting another at the 3:35 mark to give the Lakers a nine-point 65-56 lead.

CCSU extended its lead to double-digits minutes later as junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) hit a basket to give the Lakers an 11-point, 67-56, lead with 2:57 remaining. Puckett put an exclamation point on the 14-point victory with a dunk in closing seconds, two of his game-high 22 points.

“This was a good win for us on the road,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons, who captured his 299^th NCAA Division II victory with the win. “Our defense forced them into some mistakes in the second half, and we were able to take advantage of them and pull away in the final minutes.”

With the win, the Lakers improve to 17-6 on the season and 7-5 in the Peach Belt, while GC&SU drops to 6-17 on the year and 3-9 in the league. Clayton State will return to Peach Belt action on Wednesday, traveling to face the University of North Florida in an 8 p.m. game.

GCS&U’s Kevin Benn gave the Bobcats a 10-7 lead with a dunk at the 13:22 mark only to have the Lakers answer in the next two minutes. After a senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) basket, a score from Clayton State’s Puckett gave the squad its first lead of the contest 12-10 with 12:07 remaining. The Lakers led for the remainder of the game and by six points, 36-30, on a free throw by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) at halftime.

Puckett’s season high 22 points came on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and along with six rebounds. Butts chipped in 12 points, followed by Young with 10 points, four assists and four steals.

Clayton State shot 51 percent (27-of-53) on the night, its third highest field goal percentage on the season, including 4-of-8 from three-point territory. GC&SU shot 44 percent (18-of-41) from the field, 56 percent (9-of-16) from three-point territory and hit 15-of-15 from the free throw line.

Columbus, GA --- February 4, 2004 --- For the second time this season, the Clayton State and Columbus State men’s basketball game came down to the last shot in the final seconds, and this time the Cougars came away with a victory.

Columbus State University defeated Clayton College & State University 81-79 at the Lumpkin Center in Columbus, as a shot off a rebound by senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) bounced off the back rim with under three seconds to play. Clayton State defeated Columbus State 65-63 in Morrow earlier this season on a last second shot by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA).

Young set up Clayton State’s final opportunity in Wednesday’s game with a diving steal with 39 seconds remaining. With Young on the hardwood at halfcourt with the ball, the Lakers called a time, setting up its final possession. Senior Leon “Manny” Parker drove the lane and put up a shot with the clock under seven seconds, followed by Byrd grabbing the rebound for the final shot of the game.

After leading 42-32 at halftime, both teams swapped baskets for the first 10 minutes of the second half until Clayton State went on a 17-4 run over the next four minutes. Clayton State took a four-point, 70-66, lead with 6:03 remaining, as junior Darien Chavis drained a three-pointer.

Columbus State answered and retook the lead at the 3:14 mark, 75-74, on two free throws by John Thomas. The Cougars extended their lead to five points, 79-74, on a four- point play, as Kendrick Jones drained a three-pointer and was fouled on the play.

After a junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) basket and two free throws by Columbus’ Yandel Brown, CCSU’s Young drained a three-pointer, one of his four of the game, with 54 seconds remaining to set up the final seconds.

With the loss, the Lakers drop to 15-5 overall and 5-4 in the Peach Belt Conference, while Columbus State improves to 14-5 overall and 7-2 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, hosting the University of South Carolina Spartanburg in a 7:30 p.m. game.

Parker led the Lakers with a career high 19 points, hitting 5-of-7 from the floor and 9-of-12 from the free throw line. Byrd finished with 17 points to go along with seven rebounds and four assists. Chavis chipped in 14 points, while Young added 12 and a trio of steals.

For Columbus, Brown led the scoring attack with 19 points, followed by Thomas and Jones with 15 points apiece. Deshawn Bowman finished with 13 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

The Lakers struggled from the floor and the free throw line in the first half, shooting only 31 percent (11-of-35) from the field and 44 percent (7-of-16) from the free throw line. Clayton State came back in the second half to shoot 58 percent (15-of-26) from the floor and 88 percent (14-of-16) from the line.

Columbus State finished the game at 45 percent (23-of-51) from the floor and 48 percent (12-of-25) from three-point range. The Cougars shot 60 percent (9-of-15) from three-point range in the first half to take the early lead.

Clayton State won the rebounding battle 38-33 and each team finished the contest with 15 turnovers.

Game Stats
Aiken, SC --- January 31, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team dropped a close one in overtime Saturday, falling 82-76 to the University of South Carolina Aiken at the Courthouse in Aiken, SC.

With the game tied at 76 apiece in overtime, the Lakers were outscored 6-0 in the final two minutes of the overtime stanza. USCA’s Curt Triplin (Hopkins, SC) drained a three-pointer with 1:56 remaining to give the Pacers a 79-76 lead.

After both teams missed on their next opportunities, sophomore Trent Boyd (Rock Hill, SC) gave the Pacers a four-point lead, 80-76, with 33 seconds remaining hitting 1-of-2 free throws. USCA sealed the victory in the final seconds with two free throws by senior Lee Burton (Clearwater, FL), two of his career high 30 points.

Clayton State had a chance to win the game in regulation, but a driving shot off the glass by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) rolled off the back of the rim as the buzzer sounded. The Lakers trailed by four points 72-68 with 1:30 remaining only to come back and tie the game.

A baseline jumper by junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) cut the margin to two points, 72-70, followed by junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA), hitting two free throws with 42 seconds remaining to tie game at 72 apiece. A turnover off the Clayton State pressure defense set up the Lakers game-winning chance in regulation.

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 15-4 overall and 5-3 in the Peach Belt, while USCA improves to 8-10 overall and 2-5 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Wednesday, traveling to face Columbus State University in a 7:30 p.m. game.

The second half of Saturday’s game was tight throughout with neither team leading by more than seven points in the period. The Lakers raced out to an early 11-point lead in the first half as Young drained a three-pointer, giving Clayton State a 26-15 lead with 8:50 remaining.

USCA battled back and tied the game with 2:24 remaining in the first half on a three-pointer by Burton. Clayton State led 35-32 at halftime with two free throws by Leon Parker (Miami, FL) with 15 seconds remaining.

Chavis led the Lakers with 18 points, followed by Butts with 14 points and a team-high 10 boards. Parker also added 14 points, while Puckett chipped in 12 points.

Behind Burton’s 30 points, senior Bryant Latimer (Columbia, SC) had 15 points and five assists, followed by senior Minda Statkus (Mazeikai, Lithuania) and Triplin with 13 points apiece. Senior Todd Williams (Hopkins, SC) and Triplin each had seven rebounds.

Clayton State shot 39 percent (26-of-66) from the field for the game and 17 percent (1-of-6) in the overtime period. The Pacers finished at 46 percent (25-of-54) shooting on the evening, including 60 percent (3-of-5) in the overtime. Each team finished with 32 rebounds and Clayton State was able to take 12 more shots from the field thanks to forcing the Pacers into 22 turnovers.

Game Stats
Morrow, GA --- January 28, 2004 --- It was a matchup between the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region’s No. 5 and No. 6 teams, and in the end, the lower ranked team won … and in convincing fashion.

The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team, ranked sixth in the South Atlantic Region poll released today, defeated Peach Belt Conference rival and fifth-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State University 70-54 Wednesday at the Athletics & Fitness Center in Morrow, GA.

Leading 31-28 at halftime, the Clayton State defense flexed its muscles in the second half, holding the Pirates to five points in the first 10 minutes of the period. The Lakers outscored the Pirates 21-5 in the stretch and led 55-36 on a three-pointer by senior Leon Parker (Miami, FL) with 8:54 remaining.

The Lakers pushed their lead to a game high 21 points, 57-36, two minutes later as senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) had a basket. CCSU led by at least 15 points for the remainder of the game. Junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) led the second half explosion with 11 points in the period, hitting 4-of-5 from the field. Junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) led the Lakers in the game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, hitting 6-of-8 from the field.

After shooting 57 percent (12-of-21) from the floor in the first half, the Lakers held Armstrong State, the PBC’s top shooting team, to 39 percent (9-of-23) shooting in the second half. Clayton Sate heated up on the offensive end in the second half, hitting 54 percent (14-of-26) from the field after shooting 42 percent (11-of-26) in the first half.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 15-3 overall and 5-2 in the Peach Belt, while Armstrong State drops to 13-5 overall and 4-3 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 7:30 p.m. game on Saturday.

AASU jumped out to an early 11-4 lead with a three-pointer by senior Justin Wood (Midland, MI) with 15:36 remaining in the first half. Armstrong State led almost the entire first half until the Lakers made a late run. Two straight three-pointers by senior Lamar Rodgers (Jonesboro, GA) and senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA), with Young’s coming with 1:31 remaining, gave the team its first lead of the game, 29-28. The Lakers led by three points at halftime with a basket by Butts in the final minute.

Behind Puckett’s 16 points, Chavis finished with 14 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Rodgers chipped in 13 points, going 4-of-4 from three-point land and 1-of-2 from the free throw line. Butts added 10 points and seven boards.

For Armstrong State, senior guard Brian Bain (Nassau, Bahamas) led the attack with 25 points, followed by Wood with nine points.

Clayton State men cruise to 70-51 win over UNC Pembroke; to host Armstrong State Wed.

Morrow, GA --- January 24, 2004 --- Two second half runs by the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team keyed a comfortable 70-51 Peach Belt Conference victory Saturday, defeating the University of North Carolina Pembroke at the Athletics & Fitness Center in Morrow, GA.

Leading 34-25 at halftime, the Lakers turned up the defensive pressure in the opening minutes of the second half, holding the Braves to a single point in the first six minutes of the half. A jumper by senior Stephen Cox (Peachtree City, GA) capped a 13-1 run to give Clayton State a 21-point lead, 47-26, with 13:52 remaining.

The Braves battled back in the next four minutes and cut the deficit to eight points, 49-41, on a jumper by senior Damien Goodman (Lynchburg, SC) with 9:56 remaining. Clayton State answered the UNCP 15-2 run with a run its own, outscoring the Braves 19-8 over the next eight minutes to seal the 19-point victory.

A three-pointer by senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL), followed by two free throws from senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) and two free throws by Byrd capped a 7-0 run in a two-minute stretch and gave the Lakers a 68-49 lead with 1:15 remaining.

“I liked the way we finished the game in the second half,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons. “Our game is to play tough man-to-man defense, and it eventually wore them down in the second half.”

Clayton State opened the game with two straight dunks in the paint by Puckett and appeared to be well on its way to an easy victory. The Braves, however, kept it close throughout the first half, as the lead swapped hands several times. The Lakers closed the half on a 6-0 run and led 34-25 at halftime.

Another key for the Lakers in the win was perimeter shooting, as the Lakers hit a season high 50 percent (7-of-14) from three-point territory, led by a career high three-point performance from senior Lamar Rodgers (Jonesboro, GA). He scored 15 points, hitting 5-of-7 from three-point territory. His five three-pointers was one short of tying a school record.

“Welcome back, Lamar,” said Gibbons. “Lamar has been our top three-point shooter for the last two years, but he’s been struggling a little bit lately. He hit some huge three’s tonight. Every time they seemed to make a little run at us, Lamar hit a three.”

With the win, Clayton State improves to 14-3 on the season and 4-2 in the Peach Belt. The Lakers, who have won three straight PBC games, will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Armstrong Atlantic State University in a 7:30 p.m. game. The Lakers fell to the Pirates 64-60 earlier this season in Savannah, GA. UNCP falls to 2-14 with the loss and will return to action on Wednesday, hosting the University of South Carolina Aiken in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Junior center B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) led the Clayton State attack with 16 points and nine rebounds, hitting 5-of-8 from the floor and 6-of-7 from the free throw line. Butts (Savannah, GA) added 11 points and six boards, followed by Young with seven points and seven assists. Senior Leon Parker had six points and six rebounds, while Byrd finished with five points, eight rebounds and three assists.

For UNCP, sophomore Ricardo Williams (Blackville, SC) led the way with 14 points, followed by junior Frank Foster (Summerfield, LA) with 10 points. Junior Travis Wallace (Columbia, SC) had eight points and seven rebounds.

Young basket with nine-tenths of second remaining lifts Clayton State to 65-63 victory over Columbus

Game Stats
Morrow, GA --- January 21, 2004 --- Senior guard Kevin Young hit a driving shot off the glass with nine-tenths of a second remaining to lift the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team to a 65-63 Peach Belt Conference victory Wednesday at the Athletics & Fitness Center in Morrow, GA.

Columbus State had one chance with less than a second remaining but a desperation shot from half court sailed right. Both teams had their chances down the stretch, as baskets came at a premium with both squads combining for six points in the final 3:23 of the game.

Columbus’ Chris Jackson tied the game at 61 apiece with jumper at the 3:23 mark only to have both teams go cold and not score for the next 1:15. Clayton State senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) stuck in a basket off a pass from senior Leon Parker (Miami, FL), giving the Lakers a two-point, 63-61, lead with 1:09 remaining.

The Cougars came back and tied the game at 63 with a jumper by junior guard Kendrick Jones (Duluth, GA) with 55 seconds remaining, setting up the Lakers final possession. With the shot clock winding down, junior guard Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) took shot just outside the lane that bounced off the back rim only to have Parker grab one of the biggest rebounds of his Clayton State career, setting up the last shot.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 13-3 overall and 3-2 in the conference, while Columbus State drops to 10-5 overall and 3-2 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, hosting the University of North Carolina Pembroke in a 4 p.m. game.

Clayton State trailed only once in the game as the Cougars scored the game’s first basket on a shot by Jones. The Lakers led by 10 points, 14-4, with 15:07 remaining in the first half on a basket by junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA). Clayton State led 35-37 at intermission as Chavis drained a three-pointer with 34 seconds remaining.

In the second half, the Lakers led by seven points, 57-50, with 7:42 remaining only to have CSU battle back down the stretch thanks three points by junior center Chris Jackson (Lecanto, FL) and a three- pointer by senior guard Deshawn Bowman (Louisville, KY). The three-pointer by Bowman with 4:03 remaining tied the score at 59 apiece. Puckett answered for Clayton State with a bucket, giving the Lakers a 61-59 with 3:41 remaining, setting up the finish.

Senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) and Puckett controlled the inside for the Lakers, en route to the victory. Butts finished with a game high 18 points and eight rebounds, hitting 9-of-13 shots from the field. Puckett had 17 points and 11 boards, hitting 8-of-12 from the floor. Young finished with eight points and five assists, while Byrd finished with eight points, five rebounds and four assists.

For Columbus State, Bowman finished with 17 points, seven assists and eight rebounds, followed by Jones with 16 points. Junior Yandel Brown (Eastman, GA), the Peach Belt’s leading scorer at over 25 points per game, chipped in 11 points.

The Lakers shot 49 percent (29-of-59) from the field, while holding the Cougars to 37 percent (22-of-60) from the floor, including 35 percent (9-of-26) from three-point territory. The Lakers controlled the boards, outrebounding Columbus 46-27 but did have 15 turnovers compared to only eight for the Cougars.

Clayton State men cruise to 70-57 Peach Belt Conference road victory at Lander Sat.

Game Stats
Greenewood, SC --- January 17, 2004 --- Leading by eight points with 9:21 remaining, the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team went on a 13-3 run over a six-minute span to cruise to a 70-57 Peach Belt Conference road win over Lander University at Horne Arena in Greenwood, SC.

Junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) ignited the run with a three-pointer at the 8:35 mark, giving the Lakers an 11-point, 59-48 lead. Senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) capped the stretch with two straight baskets, four of his game-high 20 points. His second basket with 4:40 remaining gave Clayton State an 18-point, 69-51, lead with 2:49 remaining and sealed the victory.

“We had a nice run in the second half, fueled by our defensive pressure,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons. “Anytime you can get a road conference win, it’s an accomplishment. After three straight road games, we finally get back home on Wednesday, but it will be another tough one against Columbus (State).”

With the win, Clayton State improved to 12-3 on the season and 2-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. Lander falls to 4-10 overall and 1-3 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Columbus State University in a 7:30 p.m. game.

Clayton State led the entire second half of Saturday’s game after leading 35-29 at halftime. The Lakers took the lead for good in the first half at the 10:42 mark on a three-pointer by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA), giving the Lakers an 18-15 lead.

Butts’ 20 points came on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and went along with a game high nine rebounds. His effort was one point shy of tying his career high, set earlier this season against Voorhees.

Chavis added 15 points, hitting 6-of-8 from the floor, including 3-of-4 from three-point territory. He also had five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) chipped in 12 points.

Lander freshman Emanuel Hodrea (Norcross, GA) led the Bearcats with 10 points and nine rebounds, followed by sophomore guard J.T. Greene (Greer, SC) with nine points.

Clayton State shot 54 percent (27-of-50) from the field, its second best shooting percentage on the season, the Lakers shot 55 percent from the field in the team’s PBC-opening win over the University of North Florida. The Bearcats shot 45 percent (21-of-47) from the field and outrebounded the Lakers 29-28 but did commit 14 turnovers compared to 12 for Clayton State.

Clayton State falls 64-60 to Peach Belt foe Armstrong State Wednesday; drops to 11-3 on season

Game Stats
Savannah, GA --- January 14, 2004 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team let a Peach Belt Conference road victory slip out of its grasp Wednesday, falling 64-60 to Armstrong Atlantic State University at Alumni Arena in Savannah, GA.

Leading most of the second half, the Lakers took a six-point lead, 52-46, on a three-pointer by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) only to have the Pirates answer over the next nine minutes with a game-deciding 14-4 run.

AASU’s Bryan Taylor gave the Pirates their first lead of the second half, 57-56, with a free throw with 3:52 remaining in the game, followed by Jason Sanders capping the run with a free throw at the 1:44 mark, giving the Pirates a 60-56 lead.

Despite scoring only four points in a nine-minute stretch, the Lakers still had a chance in the final minute. Senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) cut the deficit to two points, 60-58, with 1:12 remaining and after a AASU miss, the Lakers had a chance to tie the game with 37 seconds remaining but a jumper by senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) rolled off the rim.

Armstrong’s Brian Bain and Tim Brewer combined for four free throws sandwiched by a basket from Clayton State’s Byrd for the game’s final six points.

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 11-3 overall and 1-2 in the Peach Belt, while Armstrong improves to 12-2 and 3-0 in the league. Clayton State will return to PBC action on Saturday, traveling to face Lander University in a 7:30 p.m. game.

The Pirates won the game at the free throw line, hitting 25-of-31 free throws, including 18-of-22 from the line in the second half. Clayton State’s defense held AASU to only five field goals in the second half.

The Lakers led 41-35 at halftime after Young drained a three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining in the period. Clayton State raced out to a 7-0 and led most of the first half.

Young finished with a team high 16 points, hitting 5-of-8 from the field, including four three-pointers. Byrd had 15 points and six rebounds, followed by junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) with 14 points. Butts chipped in eight points and had a game high 10 rebounds.

For Armstrong State, Bain led all scorers with 27 points, hitting 6-of-12 from the floor, 2-of-4 from three-point territory and 13-of-16 from the free throw line. Bryan Taylor and Tim Black had 11 points and 10 points, respectively.

Both teams shot 44 percent from the field with the Lakers taking 16 more shots from the field and making seven more field goals than the Pirates. The Lakers were 25-of-57 from the floor, while AASU went 18-of-41 from the field. Armstrong made up for the scoring difference with a large edge at the free throw line, taking 21 more free throws than the Lakers and making 22 more from the line.

#18 FMU wins battle between the best records in Peach Belt, defeats Clayton State 76-69 Sat.

Game Stats
Florence, SC --- January 10, 2004 --- A Peach Belt Conference matchup between the two teams with the best records in the league wasn’t settled until the final minutes, but in the end, 18^th ranked Francis Marion University held off Clayton College & State University 76-69 at the Smith University Center in Florence, S.C.

Trailing the entire second half, the Lakers battled back in the game’s final minutes and cut the deficit to four points, 68-64, with 1:38 remaining on a three-pointer by junior Carlton Holmes (Charlotte, NC).

After FMU missed two free throws and a Clayton State turnover, Patriot senior guard Mike Buglione (Marietta, GA) drained a long-range three-pointer with 51 seconds, giving Francis Marion a 71-64 lead, sealing the victory.

With the loss, the Lakers fall to 11-2 overall and 1-1 in the Peach Belt, while Francis Marion improves to 12-1 and 2-0 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Armstrong Atlantic State University in a 7:30 p.m. game.

Francis Marion took its largest lead of 12 points, 53-41, at the 11:46 mark of the second half, on a three-pointer by Buglione. Clayton State battled back with an 11-2 run over the next five minutes and a free throw by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) cut the deficit to three points, 55-52, with 7:06 remaining.

The Patriots answered with a 7-0 run to push their lead back to double-digits 62-52 with 4:26 remaining on a basket by junior Louis McCullough (Goose Creek, SC) only to have Clayton State junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) come right back with a three-pointer, trimming the deficit to seven points. Both teams exchanged baskets for the next two minutes before Holmes’ three-pointer cut the Patriot lead to four points with 1:38 remaining.

Clayton State raced out to a 12-5 lead on a three-pointer by Young at the 14:39 mark of the first half. FMU came back with seven straight points and took its first lead, 17-16, on one of four first half three-pointers by McCullough. The Patriots outscored the Lakers 16-7 over the next eight minutes and took a 10-point lead 33-23 with a three-pointer by sophomore Michael Jenkins (Goose Creek, SC) with 2:23 remaining in the first half.

The Lakers closed the half on a 7-2 run, capped by a fast break dunk by senior Leon “Manny” Parker (Miami, FL) and trailed at intermission 35-30.

Chavis led the Lakers with 18 points, four assists and four steals, followed by Holmes with 12 points. Young chipped in nine points.

For Francis Marion, McCullough had 21 points, hitting 8-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point territory to go along with seven rebounds. Senior Randy Williams (Summerville, SC) had 19 points, hitting 8-of-11 from the floor and eight rebounds. Senior Jaquan Bracey (Bennettsville, SC) had a game high 11 rebounds, while senior guard David Hawkins (Aurora, IL) had a game high eight assists.

The Patriots shot a sizzling 51 percent (26-of-51) from the field, including 41 percent (7-of-17) from three-point territory. The Lakers shot 38 percent (25-of-66) from the floor and only 24 percent (6-of-25) from three-point range.

Francis Marion outrebounded the Lakers 36-33 but did commit 21 turnovers compared to 18 for Clayton State.

Second half 10-0 run seals 80-68 Peach Belt win
for Clayton State over North Florida

Game Stats
Morrow, GA --- January 7, 2004 --- A 10-0 run with 6:52 remaining Wednesday propelled the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team to an 80-68 victory over the University of North Florida in the Lakers Peach Belt Conference opener at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Leading 61-56, Clayton State hit back-to-back three-pointers, one by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA), followed by another one from junior Carlton Holmes (Charlotte, NC). Two free throws by Young, followed by a basket from junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) capped the game-deciding run, giving the Lakers a 71-56 lead with four minutes remaining.

UNF came back in the final four minutes to cut the deficit to six points on two occasions, but the Lakers held off the Ospreys down the stretch. Senior Justin Bridges (Passaic, N.J.) hit a free throw with 1:03 remaining to cut the deficit to six points, 74-68, before the Clayton State scored six unanswered points down in the final minute, four coming from senior Leon “Manny” Parker (Miami, FL).

With the win, the Lakers improve to 11-1 on the season and 1-0 in the Peach Belt, while UNF drops to 8-4 on the year and 0-1 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Francis Marion University. The 18^th-ranked Patriots defeated Lander on Wednesday 77-66 to improve to 11-1 on the season. North Florida will return to action on Saturday, hosting the USC Spartanburg.

In the first half, Clayton State led by 10 points 24-14 with 6:36 remaining on a basket by senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA) only to have North Florida battle back. The Ospreys went on a 12-1 run and led 27-26 at the 2:37 mark on a free throw by sophomore David Ashwell (Englewood, FL). Clayton State led 33-28 at intermission on a three-pointer by Young.

The Lakers had a balanced scoring attack with four players in double-digits, led by Puckett with 15 points, a game high nine boards and three blocks. Parker chipped in 14 points, hitting 6-of-7 shots from the field to go along with seven boards. Young added 13 points, four assists and three steals, while Butts had 11 points and six rebounds.

For UNF, junior Donny Lotz (New Port Pichey, FL) finished with a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds. Freshman James Grimball (Jacksonville, FL) finished with 14 points, followed by senior Preshin Williams (Columbus, GA) with 11 points and six assists.

Clayton State shot 55 percent (28-of-51) from the field, while holding the Ospreys to 38 percent (18-of-47) from the floor. UNF capitalized at the free throw line, hitting 26-of-34 attempts compared to the Lakers hitting 18-of-28 from the line. The Lakers outrebounded the Ospreys 36-28 and committed only 12 turnovers compared to 14 for UNF.

Clayton State captures 10^th win with 65-50 victory over J.C. Smith in Wachovia/Southern Orthopaedic Holiday Classic

Game Stats
Morrow, GA --- December 29, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team is off to its best start in school history and won one of its biggest games ever Monday, upping its win total to 10 on the season.

The Lakers thrashed Johnson C. Smith, perennially one of the strongest teams out of the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region, 65-50 in the Wachovia/Southern Orthopaedic Holiday Classic at the Athletics & Fitness Center in Morrow.

Clayton State led by eight points with less than four minutes in the game before going on a roll down the stretch. Laker senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) got the run started with a three-point play at the 3:49 mark with a driving basket in the lane and free throw, giving the squad an 11-point lead, 56-45. Byrd finished with a team high 13 points in the win to go along with five assists and four rebounds.

After both teams traded baskets, a free throw by junior Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) gave the squad a 10-point, 59-49, lead with 2:38 remaining. Senior Craig Butts put an exclamation point on the victory with dunk with 44 seconds remaining, giving the Lakers a 15-point lead. Butts finished with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in the game.

With the win, Clayton State improves 10-1 on the season and continues to build on the program’s best start in school history. The Lakers, on a four-game winning streak, will return to the floor on January 7, hosting the University of North Florida in the squad’s Peach Belt Conference opener at 7:30 p.m.

After leading by 16 points, 35-19, at halftime, the Lakers pushed their lead to as many as 19 points in the second half before the Golden Bulls went on a second half run. J.C. Smith outscored the Lakers 22-12 in an 11-minute stretch to cut the deficit to eight points, 53-45, with 5:08 remaining before Clayton State sealed the victory with its solid play down the stretch.

The Laker defense was key in the contest as the squad held J.C. Smith to 33 percent (17-of-52) shooting from the floor. The Golden Bulls hit only 20 percent (3-of-15) from three-point territory, and Clayton State forced J.C. Smith into 15 turnovers compared to only eight for the Lakers. Clayton State also shot 46 percent (26-of-57) on the night and outrebounded J.C. Smith 42-39.

Behind Byrd and Butts, senior Manny Parker (Miami, FL) chipped in eight points to go along with five rebounds. Senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA) had seven points and five assists, while junior B.J. Puckett (Auburn, GA) had six points, five rebounds and five blocks.

Morrow, GA - December 29, 2003 - After fouling out in a close game a night before, Darnell Miller made sure that his team was going to win their next game. Miller dished out a season-high 12 assists, paving the way for Germayne Forbes' 26 points en route to a 74-72 victory over the Albany State Rams at the Wachovia/Southern Orthopedic Holiday Classic at Clayton State University.

The Braves opened up a 17 point lead at halftime, only to have a gritty Albany State squad claw back and tie the game in the waning minutes of the contest.

With the score 74-72 and 23 ticks left on the clock, ASU's Nick Wallery stripped Jonathan James of the ball at halfcourt and the ball bounced off of James' knee and out-of-bounds underneath the Rams' basket.

After milking the clock down, Wallery attempted a desperate three-pointer that clanked off the back of the rim and fell safely into the hands of West Georgia center Jay Sherrell as time expired.

Rob Neal added 13 points while James chimed in with 10 to go with Forbes' 26.

Clayton State defeats Albany State 82-67, off to best start in school history at 9-1

Game Stats
Morrow, GA --- December 28, 2003 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team outscored Albany State University 22-8 in a 10-minute stretch in the second half to cruise to an 82-67 victory Sunday in the Wachovia/Southern Orthopaedic Holiday Classic at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

A basket by junior guard Darien Chavis (Philadelphia, PA) off an assist from senior Jason Byrd (Brooksville, FL) with 4:01 remaining gave the Lakers a commanding 20-point lead 78-58. Clayton State led by at least 15 points for the remaining four minutes of the contest.

With the win, Clayton State improves to 9-1 on the season, the best start in school history, surpassing the 8-2 start by the 1998-99 squad. The Lakers will return to action on Monday at 8 p.m., hosting Johnson C. Smith University in the Classic. The Golden Bulls, from J.C. Smith, defeated the State University of West Georgia in a tournament game played earlier on Sunday 98-96 in double overtime.

Clayton State led the entire game Sunday, taking its first double-digit lead 23-10 at the 8:54 mark of the first half on a basket by senior Craig Butts (Savannah, GA). The Lakers pushed their lead to 14 points on two occasions in the first half only to have Albany State answer. The Golden Rams went on a 10-4 run to close the half and a basket by senior Flem Tucker (Louisville, GA), one of his game-high 24 points, cut the deficit to eight points, 40-32 at intermission.

Clayton State took its first double-digit lead of the second half at the 18:50 mark on a basket by Chavis. The Lakers pushed their lead to 14 points, 70-56, at the 8:15 mark on a jumper by senior Kevin Young (Marietta, GA).

Metro-Atlanta rival Kennesaw State prevails over Clayton State 59-51 in defensive struggle Wednesday

Clayton State men cruise to 70-51 win over UNC Pembroke; to host Armstrong State Wed.

Young basket with nine-tenths of second remaining lifts Clayton State to 65-63 victory over Columbus

Second half 10-0 run seals 80-68 Peach Belt win for Clayton State over North Florida

Clayton State captures 10th win with 65-50 victory over J.C. Smith in Wachovia/Southern Orthopaedic Holiday Classic

Clayton State defeats Albany State 82-67, off to best start in school history at 9-1

Second half 10-0 run seals 80-68 Peach Belt win
for Clayton State over North Florida

Clayton State captures 10^th win with 65-50 victory over J.C. Smith in Wachovia/Southern Orthopaedic Holiday Classic