Men's Basketball

Clayton State adds to final roster; four local players staying home to play for Lakers

Morrow, GA – August 29, 2005 – Clayton State University men’s basketball has added its final pieces to what was already a national caliber recruiting class and one of the top classes in school history, as school began on the Morrow campus last week.

Gibbons, entering his fifth-year coach and one of the winningest at the NCAA Division II level, announced that four local players are staying home and enrolled at Clayton State. The players are 2002 Morrow High School graduate Rod Venner, 2003 Creekside High forward Jeff Trotter, 2004 MHS graduate Trey Goss and 2005 Fayette County High graduate Jordan Windisch.

“We are excited that these four quality young men have decided to join our program,” said head coach Gibbons.

Venner, the all-time leading scorer at Morrow, transferred from NCAA Division I Jacksonville State University. He led Morrow to a Final Four appearance in 2002 and was a two-time All-Region performer at Atlanta Metro College, where he led the region in scoring at 21 points per game.

A 6-5 forward, Trotter transferred to Clayton State from Division I Robert Morris of the Northeast Conference. An All-State performer at Creekside, he is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder at the school.

Goss transfers from Fort Valley State University, where he played in all 27 games and led the team in three-point field goal percentage. The all-time best three-point shooter at Morrow, he led Jay Livingston’s 2004 Morrow team to the state playoffs.

Fayette County sharp-shooter Windisch, a 6-4 guard, enters as a true freshman. He averaged 17 points per game over the last two seasons at the school, hitting 150 three-pointers. His season high last year was 39 points against South Cobb High, which included nine three-pointers for coach Andre Flynn’s team.

The four players join six other signees for the upcoming season, giving the squad one its deepest and most talented classes in school history. Signing earlier this summer were guards Todd McLaurin, from Lenoir Community College in Clinton, NC; Brandon Kelley, from Sante Fe Community College in Gainesville, FL; and Luis Rodriquez from Central Florida Community College in Ocala; forwards Marshez Truitt, out of Heard County High School in Franklin, GA; and John Beugnot, from Abraham Baldwin College, in Tifton, GA; and center Cedrick Kalombo, from Fresno City Community College in California.

A NJCAA All-America, McLaurin scored over 1,500 points in the last two seasons at LCC and was voted the NJCAA Region X Player of the Year last season, averaging 24 points and six assists per contest, while shooting 44 percent from behind the three-point arc. A 5-11 guard, he led his club to a 20-10 season as a sophomore. He had nine 30-point games last season and scored a season high 48 points versus Spartanburg Methodist.

Kelley, 5-foot-10 from Leesburg, FL, sparked Sante Fe to a 26-4 season last year, including the school’s best start in school history, as the Saints raced out a 22-1 record last year and was ranked sixth in the nation. He was a selection to the Region VIII All-Star game.

A 6-foot-4, 205 lb. guard, from New York, NY, Rodriquez was a Mid-Florida Conference All-Star and team MVP both his freshman and sophomore seasons. He averaged 13 points per game and led the club to 36 wins over two seasons.

Truitt, a 6-6 swingman, recently put the finishing touches on a sensational prep career, ending his career with over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. The squad was ranked among the top 10 teams in the state each of his four years. Truitt averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and almost three blocks per game as a senior.

Beugnot, a native of Lyon, France, helped lead his ABAC team to an 18-12 record last season, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. A 6-7 forward, he was an All-Region selection after leading the squad in both scoring and rebounding. He ranked third in the region in rebounding.

Kalombo, a 6-11 center, joins the Lakers after playing one season at Fresno City and helping the squad to a 34-0 record and a California junior college state championship. He averaged 10 points, eight rebounds. He was one of the nation’s top shot blockers last year, averaging over three blocks per game.

Clayton State finished the 2004-05 season with an 18-13 overall record and the second best mark in the Peach Belt at 11-5 on the season. The Lakers have averaged 19 wins over the last four seasons, which includes winning a Peach Belt Conference Championship.

##CSU##

Clayton State men’s basketball
adds Rodriquez to 2005-06 recruiting class

Morrow, GA – August 2, 2005 – Clayton State University men’s basketball has added its final piece to what was already a national caliber recruiting class and one of the top classes in school history.

Head coach Gordon Gibbons, entering his fifth season as the Laker coach, has announced the signing of junior college standout Luis Rodriquez to a grant-in-aid to attend Clayton State University after spending two seasons at Central Florida Community College in Ocala, FL.

“Luis is a tough, physical competitor, who will fit into our style of play,” said Gibbons, one of the all-time winningest coaches at the NCAA Division II level. “He gives us experience, size and strength at the guard position.”

“Luis does all the things that enables your team to be successful,” said Tim Ryan, his coach at Central Florida.

Rodriquez will join six other recent signees in Clayton State’s talented class for next season. Along with Rodriquez, Clayton State has signed Todd McLaurin, from Lenoir Community College in Clinton, NC; Brandon Kelley, from Sante Fe Community College in Gainesville, FL; high school senior Marshez Truitt, out of Heard County High School in Franklin, GA; John Beugnot, from Abraham Baldwin College, in Tifton, GA; and Cedrick Kalombo, from Fresno City Community College in California.

Kelley, a 5-foot-10 from Leesburg, FL, sparked Sante Fe to a 26-4 season last year, including the school’s best start in school history, as the Saints raced out a 22-1 record last year and was ranked sixth in the nation. He was a selection to the Region VIII All-Star game.

A 6-6 swingman, Truitt recently put the finishing touches on a sensational prep career, ending his career with over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. The squad was ranked among the top 10 teams in the state each of his four years. Truitt averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and almost three blocks per game as a senior.

##CCSU##

Clayton State men’s basketball signs
junior college All-America guard

Morrow, GA – May 31, 2005 - Clayton State University men’s basketball has added another jewel to its 2005-06 recruiting class, signing a junior college All-America guard for the first time in school history.

Head coach Gordon Gibbons has announced the signing of Robert “Todd” McLaurin, a National Junior College Athletic Association All-America guard at Lenoir Community College in Clinton, NC.

McLaurin scored over 1,500 points in the last two seasons and was voted the NJCAA Region X Player of the Year last season, averaging 24 points and six assists per contest, while shooting 44 percent from behind the three-point arc.

“Todd is a strong addition to our recruiting class,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons, one of the winningest coaches at the Division II level. “He is a complete guard, who can score, as well as, keep his teammates involved from the lead position.”

At Lenoir, McLaurin was a two-time All-Region player and led his club to a 20-10 season as a sophomore. He had nine 30-point games last season and scored a season high 48 points versus Spartanburg Methodist. He also had 40 points and nine assists against Region X champion Brunswick (NC).

McLaurin was a three-sport star in high school at Hobbton High School in Newton Grove, NC. He signed a NCAA Division I football scholarship before later transferring back to Lenoir to play collegiate basketball. In high school, McLaurin was a four-year starter, finishing with over 2,000 points, which included 25 points per game as a senior.

He will join five other recent signees, giving the Lakers another national-caliber recruiting class for next season. Along with McLaurin, Clayton State has signed Brandon Kelley, a junior college standout from Sante Fe Community College in Gainesville, FL, high school senior Marshez Truitt, out of Heard County High School in Franklin, GA; John Beugnot, from Abraham Baldwin College, in Tifton, GA; and Cedrick Kalombo, from Fresno City Community College in California.

##CCSU##

Clayton State men’s basketball
signs two for 2005-06 season

Morrow, GA - May 18, 2005 - Clayton College & State University men’s basketball coach Gordon Gibbons has announced the signing of two players for 2005-06, and both players were instrumental in leading their respective teams to record-setting seasons last year.

The Lakers recently signed Brandon Kelley, a junior college standout from Sante Fe Community College in Gainesville, FL, and high school senior Marshez Truitt, out of Heard County High School in Franklin, GA.

A selection to the Region VIII All-Star game, Kelley averaged over four assists per game and more than three steals per contest to go along with shooting 44 percent from behind the three-point arc, all of which ranked among the leaders in the Florida junior colleges.

“B.K. is a ‘run the show’ point guard with two years of college experience,” said Gibbons, one of the all-time winningest coaches at the NCAA Division II level. “Throughout his entire career, he has been involved with championship teams. His leadership is important and something we need in our program, since we are losing six seniors.”

A 6-6 swingman, Truitt recently put the finishing touches on a sensational prep career at the high school located 50 miles southwest of Morrow.

Truitt, a four-year starter, ended his career with over 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds, leading Heard County to a 75-29 record over his four years. The squad was ranked among the top 10 teams in the state each of his four years.

“Marshez is not only an outstanding talent, but he will also bring character and a strong academic background to our program,” said Gibbons. “He is an excellent addition to our recruiting class.”

Truitt averaged 22 points, eight rebounds and almost three blocks per game as a senior, en route to being named the team’s Most Valuable Player. The squad’s captain, his top game last year came against Bremen, as he poured in 38 points. He also had 36 points, 18 rebounds and seven blocks versus fifth-ranked Bowdon and 30 points against top-ranked Tri-County last year.

As a junior, Truitt averaged 18 points, 13 rebounds and almost four blocks per game for the Braves.

In addition to his “on the court” accomplishments, Truitt also excelled in the classroom, as he ranked fifth academically in his class. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine and will major in biology at Clayton State.

Kelley and Truitt join two other 2005-06 signees for the Lakers. Clayton State signed 6-7 junior forward John Beugnot, from Abraham Baldwin College, along with 6-11 sophomore center Cedrick Kalombo, from Fresno City Community College in California.

Beugnot, a native of Lyon, France, helped lead his ABAC team to an 18-12 record last season, averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. He was an All-Region selection after leading the squad in both scoring and rebounding. He ranked third in the region in rebounding.

Clayton State men’s basketball signs two posts
Beugnot and Kalombo for 2005-06 season

Morrow, GA --- April 24, 2005 --- The Clayton College & State University’s men’s basketball program graduated its two starting posts from the 2004-05 season but has quickly filled that void with the signing of a couple standout junior college players for 2005-06.

Clayton State signed 6-foot-7 junior forward John Beugnot, from Abraham Baldwin College, along with 6-foot-11 sophomore center Cedrick Kalombo, from Fresno City Community College in California.

“John brings experience to the forward position,” said fourth-year head coach Gordon Gibbons, one of the winningest at the NCAA Division II level. “He has the ability to score facing and with his back to the basket.”

Beugnot will be leaned upon to pick up the scoring and rebounding load that will be needed with graduation of Craig Butts, who ranked in the top five in the Peach Belt Conference in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage.

“John’s scoring and rebounding will help fill the void of departing senior Craig Butts. When you average a “double-double” and shoot 40 percent from 3-point territory, you are a versatile player.”

Kalombo joins the Lakers after playing one season at Fresno City and helping the Fresno City squad to a 34-0 record and a California junior college state championship. He averaged 10 points, eight rebounds. He was one of the nation’s top shot blockers last year, averaging over three blocks per game.

“Cedrick joins Aristide (Sawadogo) on the front line, which will offset the loss of seniors B.J. Puckett and Craig. He adds size, skill and a unique shot blocking ability to our team. The experience of playing on a championship team brings an added edge that will help us.”

##CCSU##

Clayton State’s Craig Butts named
All-South Atlantic Region first team

Morrow, GA - March 9, 2005 - Clayton College & State University’s Craig Butts became the Lakers all-time leading rebounder and joined the men’s 1,000 point club earlier this season, and on Wednesday was acknowledged as one of the top five players in the region.

Butts, a 6-7 senior from Savannah, GA, was named to the first team All-South Atlantic Region squad. By being named to the All-Region squad, he becomes eligible to for All-America honors later this month. Craig led the Lakers to a third place finish in the Peach Belt Conference this season, the second highest finish in school history.

He was a first team All-PBC selection in 2004-05 and is the only player in the Belt to be ranked in the top five in scoring (4th); rebounding (2nd) and field goal percentage (4th). Butts averaged a team-leading 17 points per game, while shooting 52 percent from the floor. He also pulled a team-leading eight boards per contest. He led the Lakers in scoring in 23 of 31 games and in rebounding in 20 games while posting 28 double-digit scoring games and 10 "double-doubles."

His top two games this season came in back-to-back games in January when he led the Lakers to wins over then eighth-ranked the University of South Carolina Upstate and the PBC Tournament champions, Columbus State University.

Butts scored 26 points and pulled a career high 14 rebounds against Upstate, as the Lakers toppled the Spartans 61-59 to move into a tie for first in the PBC. He connected on 8-of-14 shots from the floor, including 2-of-3 from behind the three-point arc. He also converted 8-of-11 attempts from the free throw line. Butts’ 26 points against Upstate came on the heels of 26-point effort against Columbus. He drained 12-of-19 shots and pulled nine boards in the team’s 82-72 win over the Cougars.

Craig is only the second Laker to receive first team NCAA All-Region honors, as Robert Conley was named first team All-Region in 1998-99 and later received third team All-America honors. Former Laker Derrick Stroud was named second team All-Region in 1997-98.

Clayton State’s season came to an end in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament last week, falling to Augusta State 67-53. The Lakers finished with an 18-13 record, its fourth straight winning record and have a 76-42 record over the last four seasons, the best in school history over a four-year span.

2004-05 DAKTRONICS INC./CoSIDA NCAA DIVISION II MEN'S BASKETBALL
ALL-SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION TEAMS

FIRST TEAM
*&Letheal Cook, Bowie State University
*Yandel Brown, Columbus State University
Roman Davis, Lenoir-Rhyne College
Craig Butts, Clayton College & State University
Luqman Jaaber, Virginia Union University

SECOND TEAM
*Louis McCullough, Francis Marion University
Jonathan Moore, North Carolina Central University
Lorenzo Lawrence, Armstrong Atlantic St. University
Rey Luque, Kennesaw State University
Jeremiah Tinch, Mars Hill College

* repeat selection from 2004-05 all-region team
& 2004-05 Daktronics South Atlantic Region Player of the Year

###CCSU###

Clayton State falls to Augusta State

67-53 in Peach Belt Tournament

Augusta, GA --- March 4, 2005 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball season came to an end on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Peach Belt Conference, as the Lakers fell to tournament host Augusta State University 67-53 at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Clayton State managed only 17 points in the first half and trailed 29-17 at intermission. The Lakers trailed by as many as 19 points with 11:11 remaining in the second half but made furious comeback in the final five minutes.

The Lakers cut the deficit to nine points, 60-51, with a basket by Craig Butts with 1:08 remaining but could come no closer. Augusta State hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

The loss drops Clayton State to 18-13 on the season, while Augusta State improves to 19-10 on the season. Augusta State advances to the semifinals on Saturday against USC Upstate.

Senior Craig Butts led the Laker attack with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while senior Darien Chavis added 10 points.

For Augusta State, Karim Telfer and Cameron Tovey each had 23 points. Tovey shot a sizzling 6-of-7 from the floor, including 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Clayton State dug itself in a hole in the first half, shooting only 25 percent (8-of-32) from the floor. The Lakers finished the game at 30 percent (19-of-63). Augusta State shot 43 percent.

Clayton State falls to Augusta State
67-53 in Peach Belt Tournament

The loss drops Clayton State to 18-13 on the season, while Augusta State improves to 19-10 on the season. Augusta State advances to the semifinals on Saturday against USC Upstate.

Senior Craig Butts led the Laker attack with 23 points and 12 rebounds, while senior Darien Chavis added 10 points.

For Augusta State, Karim Telfer and Cameron Tovey each had 23 points. Tovey shot a sizzling 6-of-7 from the floor, including 4-of-4 from the free throw line.

Clayton State dug itself in a hole in the first half, shooting only 25 percent (8-of-32) from the floor. The Lakers finished the game at 30 percent (19-of-63). Augusta State shot 43 percent.

Clayton State defense holds off GC&SU 66-59; Lakers tie for third in Peach Belt Conference

Morrow, GA --- February 26, 2005 ---The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball flexed its defense muscles Saturday, holding Georgia College & State University scoreless for almost eight minutes to pull out a 66-59 Peach Belt Conference win at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

The Laker win coupled with a Columbus State University loss to Armstrong Atlantic State University vaulted the Lakers into a tie for second place in the Peach Belt Conference South Division. The Lakers win the tiebreaker against Columbus State and will get a bye in the first round of next week’s PBC Tournament.

Clayton State improves to 18-12 on the season and 11-5 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Friday, playing in the 8 p.m. game at Augusta State University. The loss drops GC&SU to 13-14 overall and 5-11 in the Peach Belt.

Trailing by one point 55-54 with 9:49 remaining, the Lakers went on an 8-0 run in an eight-minute stretch to take control of the game. Senior Justin Levy capped the run, giving the club a 62-55 lead with 1:53 remaining.

GC&SU answered with four straight points, the second basket by Jeremy Mayweather with 54 seconds remaining but that was as close as the Bobcats would come. Clayton State seniors Darien Chavis and Rashad Williams drained four free throws in the final 10 seconds to close the game.

Clayton State led most of the first half and pushed its lead to a high of seven points, 33-26 with a jumper by Craig Butts, with 1:53 remaining. GC&SU came back to cut the deficit to two points with five straight points only to have the Lakers finish the period with baskets by Butts and Williams, taking a 37-31 advantage at intermission.

Butts led the attack with 17 points and nine rebounds, followed by Puckett with 12 points and six boards. Levy chipped in 10 points and had six assists.

For GC&SU, Andre Smith led the way with 19 points, followed by Mayweather with 11 points.

Clayton State shot 41 percent (26-of-63) from the floor, while GC&SU shot 49 percent (23-of-47). The Lakers had a big advantage on the offensive boards, 16-7, and forced 18 turnovers compared to committing only 10. The team’s work on the boards and on defense led to 16 more shot attempts for the Lakers.

##CCSU##

Clayton State men win double overtime thriller over defending national champ Kennesaw State 75-70

Morrow, GA – February 23, 2005 – The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team captured arguably its biggest win in school history Wednesday night, and it came in thrilling fashion against a bitter rival.

A raucous crowd watched the Clayton State Lakers defeat the NCAA Division II defending national champion Kennesaw State squad 75-70 at the Athletics & Fitness Center in double overtime. KSU entered the game atop the Peach Belt standings with a 22-3 overall record and 11-3 mark in the league. The Owls, ranked 2^nd in the nation, were riding a 9-game winning streak.

The Lakers pulled out the victory thanks to a number a clutch baskets in the closing seconds of regulation and in both overtimes. Clayton State trailed by four points with 42 seconds left in regulation before senior Darien Chavis dribbled the length of the court for a layup, cutting the deficit to two points, 53-51.

Clayton State got the ball back on the ensuing possession as KSU’s Rey Luque was whistled for an offensive foul trying to bring the ball up against the Laker pressure. Clayton State senior B.J. Puckett sent the game into overtime at 53 apiece with an inside basket off a pass from senior Carlton Holmes.

In the closing seconds of the first overtime, Kennesaw State led 60-55 with less than 50 seconds remaining only to have the Lakers score five unanswered points. Chavis hit two free throws cutting the Owl lead to 60-57 with 49 seconds remaining. After a KSU miss, the Lakers had one more opportunity tie the score, and Puckett did the honors, draining a three-pointer from the baseline with two seconds remaining, sending the game into a second overtime at 60 apiece.

KSU raced out to quick lead in the second overtime and took a 64-63 advantage at the 3:59 mark on a basket by Suhan Stegall. Chavis came back with two free throws for the Lakers 30 seconds later, giving Clayton State a one-point lead.

Ronnel Wooten reclaimed the lead for KSU on the next possession, draining a three-pointer from the top of the key, giving the Owls a 67-65 advantage with 2:11 left. A layup by Chavis knotted the score at 67, followed by KSU’s Tommy Thompson answering immediately with a driving layup that he converted into a three-point play, pushing the KSU lead to three points, 70-67.

Clayton State came back again though with two more free throws by Chavis, and with a minute left created another KSU turnover, leading to the game-winning basket. Puckett again came up with the crucial hoop, sticking back in a shot off a rebound with 30 seconds remaining, giving the squad a 71-70 lead. CCSU sealed the game with five free throws in the final seconds.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 17-12 on the season and 10-5 in the Peach Belt. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, hosting GC&SU for senior day in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Puckett led Clayton State with 18 points and eight rebounds, followed by Holmes with 13 points. Chavis added 10 points, including 6-of-6 from the free throw line.

For Kennesaw State, Georgy Joseph, who fouled out in overtime, finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Wooten and Luque each chipped in 13 points apiece. Tommy Thompson added 12 points.

Clayton State shot 46 percent (26-of-57) from the floor, while KSU hit 38 percent (23-of-61). KSU won the battle on the boards 45-37, including 20 to 11 in offensive rebounding. The Owls committed 23 turnovers compared to Clayton State’s 19.

###CCSU###

Clayton State men drop PBC road game,
fall to Augusta State 65-59 Saturday

Augusta, GA --- February 19, 2005 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball was unable to hold-on in the second half, dropping a Peach Belt Conference road game Saturday, falling to Augusta State University 65-59 at Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta, GA.

Leading 47-35 with 10:43 remaining, the Lakers were outscored 27-12 in the final 10 minutes. Craig Butts gave the Lakers the 12-point advantage only to have the Jaguars answer. ASU’s Larry Diamond capped a 7-0 run, cutting the Laker lead to five points, 47-42 at the 8:06 mark.

The Lakers pushed their lead back to seven points, 55-48, on jumper by Butts, but ASU responded again, outscoring Lakers 9-0 in a four-minute stretch. Augusta took their first lead of the half on a layup by Tyrekus Bowman with 51 seconds remaining. ASU drained 8-of-8 free throws in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory, including 6-of-6 from Karim Telfer.

ASU took advantage of a 19-8 foul differential in the second half and hit 15-of-16 free throws in the final 10 minutes of the game.

The loss drops Clayton State to 16-12 overall and 9-5 in the league, while Augusta State improves to 15-10 overall and 8-6 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, hosting metro-Atlanta rival Kennesaw State in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Augusta raced out to an early lead, 15-6 in the first five minutes but Clayton State came back with a run of its own to close the half. The Lakers outscored the Jaguars 23-4 in the final eight minutes of the period. A layup by senior B.J. Puckett gave Clayton State a 36-21 lead at halftime.

Butts led the Laker attack with 22 points, hitting 11-of-12 shots from the floor. Senior Darien Chavis chipped in 10 points to go along with four assists and five steals.

For Augusta, Telfer finished with 16 points, draining 9-of-11 free throws. He had six rebounds and six assists. Clarence Brown and Tyrekus Bowman each had 12 points, while Jason Mills chipped in 11 points.

Clayton State shot 53 percent (24-of-45) from the floor and 11 percent (1-of-9) from three-point range, while Augusta shot 44 percent (19-of-43) and 29 percent (4-of-14) from three-point land. The Lakers hit 10-of-15 free throws for 67 percent, while ASU hit 23-of-29 from the line for 79 percent.

Clayton State had 23 turnovers compared to ASU’s 20 turnovers. Each team finished with 25 rebounds with the Jaguars holding a 12-9 advantage on the offensive boards.

Clayton State falls to UNF 58-51;
Lakers to play at Augusta State Sat.

Morrow, GA — February 16, 2005 – The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team’s Peach Belt Conference title hopes took a hit Wednesday, as the Lakers dropped a league contest, falling to the University of North Florida 58-51 at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

The Lakers struggled all night from the perimeter, hitting only 33 percent from the field (18-of-54) and 11 percent 3-of-19 from three-point range.

Clayton State, who entered the contest in a tie for second place in the league, drops to 16-11 on the season and 9-4 in the league. North Florida improves to 12-15 overall and 7-6 in the conference. Clayton State will try to get back on the winning track Saturday, traveling to face Augusta State University.

The contest was tight throughout, as neither team led by more than five points until the final four minutes of the contest. North Florida led 35-32 at halftime.

With 9:02 remaining in the contest, Clayton State junior Donte Dawson tied the game for the 10^th time with two free throws, knotting the score at 43 apiece. The Ospreys answered, however, with four straight points. A jumper by Donny Lotz, followed by a jumper from Derrick Scott gave UNF a 47-43 lead with 7:39 remaining.

Clayton State came back with a free throw from sophomore Aristide Sawadogo and a bucket from senior B.J. Puckett, cutting the deficit to a single point but that was as close as the Lakers would come. UNF struck immediately with a three-pointer from Riley Didion, giving UNF a 50-46 lead with 4:59 left.

The Lakers cut the deficit to four points on two occasions in the final three minutes and had a chance both times to shave the Osprey lead to a single basket but was unable to convert on the offensive end. UNF’s Didion nailed one jumper at the two-minute mark to re-extend the Osprey lead to six points, and the squad hit four free throws in the final minute to seal the victory.

Butts led Clayton State with 13 points, followed by Puckett with nine points and eight boards.

Lotz finished with a game high 18 points and 12 boards for North Florida. Scott chipped in 14 points, while Didion added 11 points.

UNF shot 46 percent (20-of-44) from the field, 36 percent (4-of-11) from behind the arc and 74 percent (14-of-19) from the free throw line. The Ospreys won the battle on the boards 39-30 but did commit 17 turnovers compared to eight for the Lakers.

The UNF win avenges two losses to the Lakers this season. Clayton State defeated UNF 90-72 earlier this year at the Disney Tip-Off Classic and 55-50 in Jacksonville, FL.

###CCSU###

Clayton State holds off GC&SU for
62-60 Peach Belt Conference road victory

Milledgeville, GA --- February 12, 2005 --- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team held off a pesky Georgia College & State University squad Saturday, picking up a Peach Belt Conference road victory 62-60 at the Centennial Center in Milledgeville, GA.

Clayton State seemed to have the game well under control with less than a minute remaining, as Clayton State senior Craig Butts broke away for a slam dunk with 44 seconds remaining, giving the Lakers a 54-46 lead. The Bobcats weren’t done, however, as GC&SU’s Bryan Harrison came right back with a basket, cutting the deficit to six points.

After a Bobcat steal on the inbounds, followed by a three-pointer by Roland Dennis, the Laker lead was only three points, 56-53, with 36 seconds remaining. Clayton answered the GC&SU mini-run and sealed the game in the final 30 seconds, hitting 6-of-8 free throws, including 4-of-4 from junior Donte Dawson.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 16-10 overall and 9-3 in the Peach Belt, while GC&SU drops to 11-11 overall and 3-8 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Wednesday, hosting the University of North Florida in a 7:30 p.m. game.

Clayton State never trailed after the opening minutes of the contest. The Lakers pushed their lead to 10 points, 26-16, on a three-pointer by senior B.J. Puckett with 2:08 remaining in the first half. The Bobcats closed the half with six straight points, cutting the deficit four points, 26-22, at intermission.

In the second half, the Lakers led the entire way up until the 3:55 mark when the Bobcats tied the score at 42 with a three-pointer by Harrison. Clayton State answered and pushed its lead back to eight points over the next two minutes with senior Darien Chavis, capping an 8-0 run with a basket, giving the Lakers a 50-42 lead. Both teams swapped baskets over the next minute until GC&SU closed with a flurry.

Senior Craig Butts, who set the Clayton State all-time rebounding record on Saturday with nine boards, led the Lakers with 14 points. Butts’ nine rebounds give him 559 boards for his career, breaking former player Keith Herring’s 553 career rebounds.

Behind Butts, Puckett chipped 13 points and pulled six rebounds for the Lakers, followed by Chavis with nine points and five assists.

GC&SU’s Dennis led the way for the Bobcats with 16 points, followed by Harrison with 13 points. Justin Dickens finished the game with 10 points.

The Lakers shot 42 percent (22-of-52) from the floor, including 48 percent (11-of-23) in the second half. The squad held GC&SU to 39 percent (22-of-56) from the field. Each team committed 14 turnovers and the Bobcats had a 37-34 rebounding advantage.

##CCSU##

Clayton State falls to Kennesaw State
62-52 in battle of Peach Belt top teams

Kennesaw, GA, --- February 9, 2005 --- Kennesaw State University prevailed in a battle between the two top teams with the best records in the Peach Belt Conference Wednesday, defeating Clayton College & State University 62-52 at the Spec Landrum Center in Kennesaw, GA.

An 11-3 run in a three-minute stretch late in the game was the difference, as Owls hit 9-of-9 free throws in a three-minute span to seal the victory.

Clayton State senior Craig Butts cut the Kennesaw State lead to four points, 48-44, with 4:50 remaining only to have the Owls be perfect at the free throw line. Suhan Stegall, Georgy Joseph and Rey Luque went 2-for-2 in the stretch, while Tommy Thompson drained 3-of-3, giving the Owls a 12-point, 59-47 lead with 49 seconds remaining.

Laker guard Darien Chavis drained a three-pointer with 44 seconds to cut the deficit to nine points, but the Lakers would come no closer as Kennesaw’s Kevin McDonald hit two free throws.

The loss drops Clayton State to 15-10 on the and 8-3 in the Peach Belt, while Kennesaw State takes over the top spot in the league with a 19-3 overall record and a 9-2 mark in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face Georgia College & State University.

The game was close throughout the first half with neither team leading by more than seven points. KSU led 27-22 at halftime. The Owls pushed their lead to 12 points at the 9:53 mark, 43-31, on a three-pointer by Luque.

Clayton State answered and battled back with a 12-4 run and cut the deficit to four points, 47-43, on a three-pointer by senior Rashad Williams with 5:12 remaining, setting up the finish.

For Clayton State Butts led the attack with 23 points and seven rebounds, followed by senior Darien Chavis with eight points.

Joseph led KSU with 15 points, followed by Luque with 14 points and Thompson with 11points.

Clayton State’s Craig Butts named
Peach Belt Player of the Week

Morrow, GA — February 7, 2005 – Clayton College & State University’s Craig Butts had back-to-back career highs last week and led the Lakers to three Peach Belt Conference victories. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the league office on Monday, as the senior forward was named the Peach Belt Player of the Week.

Butts led the Lakers to wins over eighth-ranked the University of South Carolina Upstate, Columbus State University and the University of South Carolina Aiken, averaging 24 points and 10 rebounds in the three wins. He shot 54 percent from the floor in the victories.

A 6-7, 220 lb., Savannah, GA native, Butts scored 26 points and pulled a career high 14 rebounds against Upstate on Saturday, as the Lakers toppled the Spartans 61-59 to tie for first in the PBC. He connected on 8-of-14 shots from the floor, including 2-of-3 from behind the three-point arc. He also converted 8-of-11 attempts from the free throw line.

Butts’ 26 points against Upstate came on the heels of 26-point effort against Columbus. He drained 12-of-19 shots and pulled nine boards in the team’s 82-72 win over the Cougars on Wednesday. He opened the week with a 19-point, eight-rebound effort in the team’s 61-58 win over Aiken on Monday.

The Player of the Week honor is the first for a Laker men’s player since Clayton State’s Peach Belt Conference Championship season in 2001-02 when Kareen Harris received the honor in late February.

Butts’ honor also comes at a time when he is closing in on several career milestones. His 14 rebounds on Saturday gave him 543 career rebounds, only 10 rebounds shy of the all-time Clayton State record of 553 rebounds held by Keith Herring (1991-94). He is also only six points shy of 1,000 points for his career.

Butts currently leads the Lakers in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. He averages17 points and nine rebounds per game, while shooting 52 percent from the floor. Craig ranks second in the PBC in rebounding, fourth in scoring and third in field goal percentage. He is only PBC player ranked in the top-5 in all three categories.

The Clayton State men’s basketball team is currently playing its best basketball of the season, winning 12 of its last 14 games. The Lakers are riding a five-game winning streak and its win over nationally ranked Upstate was the first time the program has defeated a team ranked in the top-10.

Clayton State has a 15-9 overall record on the season and is currently tied for first in the Peach Belt with Upstate at 8-2 in the league. Clayton State will travel to face metro-Atlanta rival Kennesaw State University on Wednesday.

Clayton State topples #8 USC Upstate 61-59 to tie for first place in Peach Belt; to play at rival KSU Wed.

Spartanburg, SC---February 5, 2005 --- The Pittsburgh Steelers had the “Steel Curtain,” and the Minnesota Vikings had the “Purple People Eaters,” and if the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team keeps up its suffocating play on the defensive end, the Lakers will be destined for a nickname of its own.

The Clayton State defense led the Lakers Saturday to its biggest win of the season and one the of biggest in school history, defeating eighth-ranked the University of South Carolina Upstate 61-59 at G.B. Hodge Center in Spartanburg, SC. Clayton State had never defeated a NCAA Division II team ranked in the top 10.

After Upstate raced out to an 8-0 lead in the first two minutes on two three-pointers and a shot from the field by Charleston Long, the Lakers flexed their defensive muscles in the final 17 minutes of the period holding the Spartans to only 13 points over the stretch. Clayton State led 27-21 at intermission and the entire second half.

The win vaults the Lakers into a tie with Upstate for the top spot in the Peach Belt Conference, as both teams are 7-2 on the season in league play. The victory also sets up what will be one of the biggest games in school history on Wednesday with the Lakers traveling to face defending national champion and metro Atlanta rival Kennesaw State in a 7:30 p.m. game. The Owls will enter the game with a 6-2 record in the league.

In the second half of Saturday’s game, the Lakers pushed their lead up to 16 points, 42-26, at the 12:24 mark on a lay-in by junior T.J. Waldon. Clayton State led by double-digits except for a couple of possessions until Upstate made a late run.

The Spartans cut the deficit to five points, 53-48, with 1:37 remaining on a three-pointer by Luke Payne, but Clayton State came right back with junior Maxi Rios hitting two free throws. Upstate answered again with a three-pointer by C.J. Paul only to have the Lakers strike immediately with a long inbounds pass to Rios that resulted in a layup on the other end, giving the squad a six-point 57-51 lead with 1:33 remaining.

Clayton hit its free throws down the stretch to seal the victory with senior Craig Butts draining 4-of-4 in the final 20 seconds. The Lakers improve to 15-9 overall, while Upstate drops to 15-5 and 7-2 in the league.

Butts, who a had career high Wednesday of 26 points in the team’s win over Columbus State, matched that effort with 26 points against Upstate, hitting 8-of-14 shots from the floor to go along with 14 rebounds.

Behind Butts, Rios chipped in 11 points, followed by Waldon with six points.

For Upstate, Long finished with 23 points and seven boards.

The Lakers shot 43 percent (21-of-49) from the floor, while holding Upstate to 38 percent (20-of-53) from the floor. Clayton State dominated on the boards, holding a 42-27 rebounding edge but did commit 29 turnovers compared to 22 for Upstate.

Clayton State’s Butts and Puckett power Lakers to 82-72 Peach Belt victory over rival Columbus State

Morrow, GA — February 2, 2005– The Clayton College & State University inside senior duo of Craig Butts and B.J. Puckett powered the Laker basketball team to an 82-72 Peach Belt Conference victory Wednesday, defeating rival Columbus State University at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Butts poured in 26 points, hitting 12-of-19 from the floor, while Puckett finished with 25 points, draining 10-of-12 shots. The duo controlled the paint, cleaning the glass as the two seniors teamed for 16 rebounds and swatted away three shots.

“Our game plan was to slow them down, and be patient,” said head coach Gordon Gibbons of Columbus’ explosive offense. “Then, we wanted to pound it inside. Obviously our game plan was effective looking at the games Craig (Butts) and B.J. (Puckett) had. Defensively, our game plan was to try to keep their All-American (Yandel Brown) under control and limit the success of their other players.”

With the win, the Lakers improve to 14-9 overall and 7-2 in the league, while Columbus State drops to 13-6 and 6-3 in the league. Clayton State, who took over sole possession of second place in the Peach Belt and first place in the South Division, will return to take on conference leader and North Division leader the University of South Carolina Upstate on Saturday. Columbus State will host Francis Marion University on Saturday.

“We have established ourselves as a solid first place team in the South Division team, and now we will travel to USC Upstate on Saturday for another big game against the top team from the North side,” said Gibbons.

Clayton State led the entire game, taking its first double-digit lead with 8:24 remaining in the first half on a layup by junior Maxi Rios. The Lakers pushed their lead to 16 points, 45-29, in the final seconds of the half on a basket by Butts before Columbus answered with a hoop to cut the deficit to 14 points, 45-31, at intermission.

In the second half, the Lakers led by double-digits for the entire period except for one possession in the final seconds of the contest. The squad pushed its lead to 17 points at the 15:16 mark on a free throw by junior Donte Dawson.

Columbus came back and cut the deficit to 10 points, 64-54, at the 9:06 mark on a three-pointer by Yandel Brown, the nation’s leading scorer. Clayton State re-extended its lead to 15 points, at the 5:40 mark on a driving layup by Dawson along the baseline, giving the squad a 72-57 lead.

The Cougars made one last run but was unable to get any closer than 10 points until the final seconds. CSU’s Wil Davis cut the Laker lead to 10 points, 78-68, with 1:34 remaining, but Clayton State senior Justin Levy came right back with two free throws to seal the victory.

Behind Butts and Puckett, Levy finished with eight points, six assists and five rebounds.

For Columbus State, Brown, who averages nearly 30 points per game, finished with 26 points to pace the Cougars. Jack Tinkler and Kendrick Jones chipped in 10 points apiece.

Clayton State shot 53 percent (32-of-60) from the floor, while Columbus State hit 40 percent (29-of-72). Each team committed 17 turnovers and the Lakers won the battle on the boards 43-37.

Clayton State holds off USC Aiken 61-58; to host
PBC South Division co-leader Columbus State on Wed.

Morrow, GA — January 31, 2005 – The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team fought off a late University of South Carolina Aiken comeback attempt Monday to post its sixth Peach Belt Conference victory of the season, defeating the Pacers 61-58 at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

The win keeps the Lakers atop the Peach Belt Conference South Division standings, setting up a home match-up against co-leader Columbus State University on Wednesday in a 7:30 p.m. game. A win over the Cougars would avenge a 78-76 loss at Columbus earlier this year and give the squad sole possession of first place in the South Division.

Leading by eight points, 58-50, with 3:47 remaining, the Lakers hit just enough free throws down the stretch to hold onto the victory Monday. A basket by USCA’s Marcus Robinson, followed by a jumper from Josh Geyer cut the Laker lead to four points, 58-54, with 1:54 remaining.

Clayton State senior Justin Levy drained a free throw with 1:01 remaining followed by two from junior Donte Dawson to give the Lakers a seven-point lead, 61-54, with 41 seconds left. USCA answered with a free throw by senior Curt Triplin and then got a three-pointer from Triplin at the top of the key with nine seconds remaining to trim the deficit to three points, 61-58.

After the Lakers missed four straight free throws, USCA had one final possession but a three-point attempt by USCA’s Richard Blocker from just across half court banged off the backboard.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 13-9 overall and 6-2 in the league, while USC Aiken drops to 6-11 on the season and 2-5 in the league. Clayton State has won 10 of its last 12 games. The Pacers will host Francis Marion University on Wednesday.

Clayton State jumped out to an early lead, taking a 10-point advantage 16-6 with 12:16 remaining in the first period on a basket by senior B.J. Puckett. Senior Darien Chavis pushed the lead to 15 points, 29-14, with a basket at the 6:09 mark. USCA cut the deficit to 10 points on two free throws by Josh Poston with two minutes remaining only to have the Lakers re-extend their lead to 14 points at intermission on a basket by senior Craig Butts and two free throws from freshman Michael Sloan.

The Lakers led 41-28 early in the second half before USCA went on an 11-3 run to cut the deficit to five points. USCA’s Richard Glover hit a jumper with 10:53 remaining to cap the run as the Pacers trailed 44-39. Clayton State came back and pushed its lead back to 10 points, 52-42, with a three pointer by junior Maxi Rios at the 7:40 mark. Poston answered with a three-pointer seconds later to trim the lead to seven points, setting up the stretch drive.

Butts led the Laker attack with 19 points and eight rebounds, followed by Puckett and Chavis with eight points apiece. Franchot Brown finished with 10 points for USC-Aiken, followed by Triplin with nine points.

USCA shot 42 percent (21-of-50) from the floor, while Clayton State finished at 37 percent (23-of-62). The Lakers forced 18 USCA turnovers compared to eight for Clayton State. The Lakers also won the battle on the boards 40-38.

Clayton State defense propels Lakers to 63-59 victory at Armstrong State; Lakers to host USC Aiken Sat.

Savannah, GA---January 26, 2005 --- Defense, defense and more defense led the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team to a 63-59 Peach Belt Conference South Division road victory Wednesday, as the Lakers downed Armstrong Atlantic State University at Alumni Arena.

The Lakers held Armstrong State to only six points in a six-minute stretch late in the second half to capture the victory. Clayton State’s defense was impressive, holding the Pirates to 28 percent (16-of-57) from the floor and only 22 percent (7-of-32) in the second half.

Leading by three points, 47-44 with 7:17 remaining, the Lakers had an 11-6 run over the stretch, giving the team an eight-point lead 58-50, with 1:27 remaining. Senior Craig Butts capped the run with an inside basket, two of his team-high 17 points.

Senior Darien Chavis drained 3-of-4 of free throws and junior Maxi Rios sank 1-of-2 in the final 30 seconds of the contest to seal the victory.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 12-9 overall and 5-2 in the Peach Belt, while Armstrong State drops to 11-7 on the season and 3-4 in the league. Clayton State will return to Peach Belt Conference action on Saturday, hosting the University of South Carolina-Aiken in a 7:30 p.m. game.

The Lakers took their largest lead of the contest of nine points, 47-38, at the 9:27 mark on a three-point play by Butts. CCSU led the entire second half of the contest.

The lead swapped hands a couple of times in the first half. Armstrong State took its largest lead of the game at the 11:36 mark on a three-pointer by Sean Alarcon, giving the Pirates a 15-10 lead. Clayton State answered and took a 30-27 lead at intermission with senior Justin Levy draining a three-pointer to close the period.

Along with Butts’ 17 points, he had a team-high 12 rebounds. Senior Rashad Williams finished with 10 points, followed by senior Darien Chavis with nine points.

For Armstrong, Lorenzo Lawrence led the way with 19 points, followed by Alex Carter, Bryan Taylor and Kenny Brown each with nine points.

The Lakers shot 41 percent from the floor, hitting 21-of-51 from the floor. Armstrong State outrebounded the Lakers 46-33, thanks in large part to its lower shooting percentage. Each team took care of the ball, as the Lakers committed eight turnovers compared to 10 for the Pirates.

Clayton State men cruise to 82-64 win
over UNC Pembroke thanks to 15-2 second half run

Pembroke, NC---January 22, 2005 --- A 15-2 run with eight minutes remaining sealed a Peach Belt Conference road victory for the Clayton College & State University Saturday, as the Laker team cruised to an 82-64 victory over the University of North Carolina Pembroke.

After UNCP’s Anthony Crank cut the Laker lead to nine points, 60-51, with 8:33 remaining, the Lakers went on the game-deciding run over the next four minutes. Four straight points by freshman Michael Sloan, which included a dunk and a steal in 15 seconds ignited the run for Clayton State.

The Lakers pushed their lead to a game-high 22 points, 75-53, with 4:31 remaining on a basket by junior Donte Dawson. Clayton State led by at least 16 points for the remainder of the contest and sophomore Aristide Sawadogo put an exclamation point on the victory with a slam in the final seconds.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 11-9 overall and 4-2 in the Peach Belt, while UNCP drops to 2-15 overall and 0-6 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Wednesday, traveling to face Armstrong Atlantic State University in a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Clayton State raced out to an early lead, taking a seven-point lead, 14-7, on a three-point lead by Dawson. The squad led by double-digits, 21-11, at the 12:09 mark on a basket by Craig Butts and later pushed its lead to 14 points two minutes later on a basket by senior Rashad Williams. The Lakers led 48-36 at intermission.

The Lakers shot 56 percent (32-of-57) from the floor, including 65 percent (13-of-20) in the second half. The Braves shot 36 percent (21-of-58) from the floor. Clayton State outrebounded UNCP 38-36 and committed 19 turnovers compared to 21 for the Braves.

Senior B.J. Puckett finished with 17 points, hitting 6-of-10 from the floor to go along with six rebounds. Butts added 16 points, hitting 7-of-11 shots, and had nine rebounds. Williams chipped in 13 points and four assists, followed by Dawson with 11 points and Sloan with 10.

For UNCP, Frank Foster led the attack with 14 points, followed by Jerrell Hunter with 11 points and seven boards.

Clayton State men basketball falls in final
seconds at Columbus State 78-76

Columbus, GA---January 19, 2005--- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team made a furious comeback late in the second half but came up one basket short, falling 78-76 to Peach Belt Conference rival Columbus State in Columbus.

Trailing by six points with 1:32 remaining, junior Maxi Rios drained a three-pointer to cut the deficit to 73-70. After three free throws from Columbus’ Jack Tinkler on a foul from behind the three-point arc, the Lakers answered again with two quick baskets.

Darien Chavis scored to cut the deficit to four points and then the Laker defense forced a turnover, leading to a layup for junior T.J. Waldon and a two-point game, 76-74 with 44 seconds left. After a near Clayton State steal on a loose ball at midcourt, Columbus State gained possession and was later fouled.

Two free throws by Kendrick Jones gave the Cougars a 78-74 lead with seven seconds remaining. Clayton State’s B.J. Puckett came back with a basket with two seconds left but that was a close as the Lakers would come.

Columbus led 36-33 at halftime and pushed its led to 13 points on a three-pointer by Jones with 4:31 remaining. The Lakers went on an 18-7 run over the final four minutes before running out of time and falling by two points.

The loss drops Clayton State to 10-9 overall and 3-2 in the Peach Belt, while Columbus improves to 11-4 overall and 4-1 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, traveling to face the University of North Carolina Pembroke in Peach Belt action.

For Clayton State, senior Craig Butts finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Puckett with 16 points and 10 boards. Chavis chipped in 12 points.

Yandel Brown, the nation’s leading scorer, paced the Cougars with 32 points, hitting 7-of-10 from three point land. He finished 10-of-17 from the field. Kendrick Jones chipped in 21 points, followed by Jack Tinkler with 15 points, including four three-pointers.

The Lakers finished at 45 percent (28-of-62) from the floor, while Columbus State shot 48 percent (12-of-20). Clayton State won the battle on the boards 37-32 and committed 15 turnovers compared to 17 for the Cougars.

Columbus, hit 12-of-20 from three-point land for 60 percent in the game and Brown and Tinkler combined to go 11-of-17 from behind the three-point arc.

Clayton State men cruise to 71-49 Peach Belt
win over Lander; win 10^th on the season

Morrow, GA---January 15, 2005--- The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball closed the first half with a 20-6 run Saturday and never looked back, cruising to a 71-49 victory over Lander University at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Leading 25-20 with 8:35 remaining in the first period, the Lakers went on the game-deciding run with four quick baskets in a two-minute stretch. Two inside baskets by senior B.J. Puckett and one by junior T.J. Waldon gave the Lakers an 11-point lead, 31-20, with 7:23 remaining. Junior guard Donte Dawson capped the mini-run with a basket, giving the Lakers a 13-point lead.

Clayton State pushed its lead 19 points, 39-20, on a three-point play by junior Maxi Rios with 3:08 remaining. The Bearcats answered with a two straight baskets the second by Jarred Jackson, cutting the deficit to 15 points, 39-24, at the 1:59 mark. Clayton State came back though and a three-pointer by Puckett in the closing seconds of the half gave the Lakers a 19-point lead, 45-26, at intermission.

In the second half, the Lakers kept a double-digit lead for the entire period. Lander made one run and cut the deficit to 12 points, 53-41, with 11:22 remaining on a three-point play by Derek Brooks but would come no closer. Clayton State answered and held the Bearcats scoreless for the next four minutes, re-extending its lead.

Puckett gave the squad an 18-point lead with a basket at the 7:22 mark. The Lakers led by a game high 24 points, 71-47, in the final minutes on a three-pointer by Darien Chavis.

With the win, Clayton State improves to 10-8 overall and 2-1 in the Peach Belt. Lander drops to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in the league. The Lakers will return to PBC action on Wednesday at Columbus State University and Lander will travel to the University of North Carolina Pembroke on Wednesday.

Butts led the Laker attack with 19 points and seven rebounds, followed by Puckett with 16 points. Chavis chipped in 14 points.

For Lander, Brooks had 17 points, followed by Emanuel Hodrea with 11 points.

Clayton State’s defense once again shined, holding the Bearcats to 37 percent (18-of-49) shooting from the field. The Laker offense awoke in the first half, shooting 59 percent (17-of-29) and finished the contest at 44 percent (27-of-62). The Lakers outrebounded Lander 40-33 and forced 21 turnovers compared to committing 10.

Late Clayton State run lifts Lakers to 56-44 Peach Belt victory over Armstrong State Wednesday

Morrow, GA ---January 12, 2005--- Trailing by seven points with seven minutes remaining, the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball clamped down defensively and outscored Armstrong Atlantic State University 20-2 down the stretch for a 56-44 Peach Belt Conference victory at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Clayton State’s suffocating defense was the key, as the Lakers held the Pirates scoreless for a six-minute stretch, allowing only two free throws in the final 1:27 of the game. The Lakers held Armstrong to 26 percent (13-of-51) shooting for the evening and forced 23 turnovers.

Armstrong led by six points with 7:18 remaining on a Kenny Brown layup only to have the Lakers go on their game-deciding run. A junior Maxi Rios layup tied the score at 42 apiece with four minutes remaining, followed by senior Justin Levy draining a three-pointer to regain the lead for Clayton State with 3:09 remaining.

Clayton State upped its lead to eight points at the 1:05 mark on a layup by senior B.J. Puckett, and pushed its lead to 12 points in the final seconds on a two free throws by senior Craig Butts.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 9-8 on the season and 2-1 in the conference, while Armstrong State drops to 10-4 overall and 2-1 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Saturday, hosting Lander University in a 7:30 p.m. contest. Armstrong State will play at Francis Marion University on Saturday.

In the first half, Clayton jumped out to an early lead, taking a 12-point advantage, 18-6, on a layup by Butts with 9:46 remaining. The Lakers pushed their lead to 15 points, 30-15 at the 3:02 mark only to have the Pirates answer with a 6-0 run to close the half. AASU’s Travis Wallace scored an inside basket with 22 seconds remaining to cap the run and close the half with CCSU leading 30-21.

Butts led the Lakers with 17 points and five rebounds, followed by Puckett with 10 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Aristide Sawadogo led the Lakers on the boards with seven.

For Armstrong, Alex Carter was the only Pirate in double-digits with 10 points. AASU leading scorer Lorenzo Lawrence finished with seven points.

Clayton State shot 39 percent from the floor (19-of-49) and committed 16 turnovers. Armstrong State won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Lakers 39-32.

First half drought dooms Clayton State men; Francis Marion wins 54-47 in PBC home opener for Lakers

Morrow, GA — January 8, 2005 – The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball was never able to overcome an ice-cold start Saturday, falling 54-47 in its Peach Belt Conference home opener against Francis Marion University.

Clayton State shot 15 percent (4-of-27) in the first half, managing only 12 points for the period. FMU managed only 39 percent (11-of-28) for the period and led 25-12 at intermission.

In the second half, the Patriots increased their lead to 19 points, 39-20, with 13:10 remaining before Clayton State battled back into the game. The Lakers went on a 20-2 run over an eight-minute stretch to cut the deficit to two points 42-40 on a layup by senior Carlton Holmes.

After an exchange of free throws, FMU’s Vony Rivers answered with a three-pointer, followed by a two-point basket to give the Patriots a seven-point 48-41 lead. Clayton State made one last run, cutting the lead to three points with 54 seconds remaining on a layup by senior Darien Chavis but could come no closer. FMU hit 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the final 44 seconds to seal the victory.

The loss drops Clayton State to 8-8 on the season, and 1-1 in the Peach Belt. FMU improves to 7-5 overall and 2-0 in the league. Clayton State will return to action on Wednesday, hosting Peach Belt opponent Armstrong Atlantic State University in a 7:30 p.m. contest. FMU returns to PBC action Wednesday against the University of South Carolina Upstate.

For Clayton State, senior Justin Levy finished with a team high 10 points. Senior Craig Butts had nine points and seven rebounds, while Chavis finished with nine points.

FMU’s Michael Jenkins led the way for the Patriots with 19 points, five assists and four rebounds. Rivers added 18 points and eight rebounds, while Raymond Dorsey finished with eight points and seven boards. Jenkins and Rivers picked up the slack for FMU leading scorer Louis McCullough who was unable to play due to a leg injury.

After shooting only 15 percent from the floor in the first half, the Lakers bounced back to hit 44 percent (12-of-27), finishing at 30 percent (16-of-54). FMU hit 42 percent (19-of-45) from the field. Neither team shot well from three-point range, as Clayton State hit 26 percent (5-of-22) and Francis Marion hit 23 percent (6-of-23).

Clayton State had the rebounding edge 34-33 and committed 10 turnovers compared to 13 for the Patriots.

Clayton State men open Peach Belt schedule with
hard-fought 55-50 road win over North Florida

Jacksonville, FL — January 5, 2005 – A 17-2 run midway through the second half lifted the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team to a Peach Belt Conference road victory Wednesday, as the Lakers defeated the University of North Florida 55-50 in Jacksonville, FL.

Trailing 40-29 with 14:17 remaining in the second half, Clayton State went on the game-deciding surge thanks to its stifling defense and the offensive play of senior Craig Butts and freshman Michael Sloan. Butts had six of his game-high 23 points in the stretch, while Sloan drained a three-pointer and had another basket in the stretch.

Sloan tied the score for the Lakers at 42-42 with 7:06 remaining on a three-pointer. Two free throws by senior Rashad Williams and a bucket from Butts with 5:34 remaining capped the run and gave the squad a four-point, 46-42 lead. After both teams swapped baskets for the next two minutes, the Ospreys retook lead, 50-49, with 2:59 remaining on a basket by Donny Lotz only to have Clayton State answer again.

Two free throws by B.J. Puckett, followed by a basket by senior Darien Chavis gave the Lakers a three-point lead, 53-50, with 1:46 remaining. Two more free throws by junior Donte Dawson gave Clayton State a five-point advantage with under 30 seconds to play. Clayton State held UNF scoreless in the final three minutes of the contest to seal the victory.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 8-7 on the season and 1-0 in the Peach Belt. North Florida drops to 5-10 on the season and 0-1 in the league. Clayton State will return to Peach Belt action on Saturday, hosting Francis Marion University.

North Florida raced out to an early lead in the contest, taking a 10-point advantage, 17-7, on a three-pointer by Anthony Earl with 11:39 remaining. Clayton State closed the half with a flurry, outscoring the Ospreys 16-7 in the final 10 minutes and trailed 24-23 at intermission.

Butts was the hero for the Lakers, scoring a season high 23 points, including 15 points in the second half. He hit 9-of-12 shots from the floor and pulled seven rebounds. Fellow senior post B.J. Puckett finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, while Sloan chipped in seven points.

For North Florida, Lotz finished with 14 points and six rebounds, followed by Derrick Scott with 10 points.

Neither team shot particularly well from the field in the defensive struggle, as the Lakers hit 38 percent from the floor, converting on 17-of-45 shots, while the Ospreys shot 40 percent, hitting 17-of-43. Clayton State capitalized from the free throw line, hitting 20-of-26, while North Florida hit only 9-of-15. The Lakers also forced the Ospreys into 20 turnovers and won the battle on the boards 31-29.

Second half surge propels Clayton State
to 76-65 win over Edward Waters

Morrow, GA — January 2, 2005 – A second half surge by the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team propelled the Lakers to their fourth straight win Sunday, defeating Edward Waters College 76-65 at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Trailing 33-31 at halftime, the Lakers opened the second half with five straight points, including a three-pointer by senior Rashad Williams to give the squad a three-point 36-33 lead. After both teams exchanged baskets for the next three minutes, Clayton State went on a 28-9 run to take control and seal the victory.

Senior Justin Levy gave the Lakers their first double-digit lead of 10 points, 52-42, with 11:34 remaining on a three-pointer. Clayton State extended its lead even further in the next six minutes, as freshman Michael Sloan capped the big run, draining a three-pointer with 6:15 remaining to give the Lakers a 21-point lead, 68-47.

Clayton State led by double-digits for the remainder of the contest. The Lakers shot a sizzling 59 percent (17-of-29) from the floor in the second half, while holding the Tigers to only 38 percent (12-of-31) from the field in the second half.

With the win, Clayton State improves its record to 7-7 on the season, while Edward Waters drops to 4-11. The Lakers will return to action on Wednesday, opening their Peach Belt Conference schedule, traveling to face the University of North Florida in a 7:30 p.m.

Edward Waters raced out to an early thanks to some sharp three-point shooting. Carl Williams hit two consecutive three-pointers, followed by one from Ulysses Bain to give the Tigers a 12-4 lead with 15:18 remaining. Clayton State answered and took a 20-18 lead with 7:56 remaining on an inside basket from Aristide Sawadogo.

The lead swapped hands several times in the final five minutes of the first half until Edward Waters ran off five straight points, giving the Tigers a 33-28 lead with 1:14 remaining. A three-pointer by Clayton State’s Maxi Rios cut the deficit to 33-31 at halftime.

The Clayton State defense was once again key in the victory, as the unit held Edward Waters to 38 percent shooting from the floor and forced 18 turnovers. The Lakers have held their last three opponents to under 40 percent shooting en route to victories.

Senior Craig Butts led the Laker attack with 17 points, hitting 8-of-11 from the field. Senior B.J. Puckett finished with 12 points and seven boards, followed by Williams with 10 points. Sloan finished with nine points, followed by Rios chipping in eight points and dishing off five assists.

For Edward Waters, Carl Williams led the way with 15 points. Jamaal Callaway, Ulyssess Bain and Jaevas McClendon each had 10 points.

Clayton State’s Chavis shines in 74-59 win
over J.C. Smith in Heritage Bank Holiday Classic

Morrow, GA — December 30, 2004 – Trailing by a point with a little more than 10 minutes remaining Thursday, the Clayton College & State University men’s basketball team went on an 20-5 run over the next six minutes to claim an impressive South Atlantic Region victory over Johnson C. Smith University 74-59 in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Senior Darien Chavis ignited the Clayton State run with five consecutive points, giving the Lakers a 50-46 lead with 8:50 remaining. After a basket by senior Carlton Holmes, a three-pointer by senior Justin Levy pushed the Laker lead to 56-49 with 6:53 remaining. Free throws from Chavis and fellow senior Rashad Williams gave the Lakers an 11-point lead, 60-49, with 5:04 remaining. A three-pointer by senior B.J. Puckett sealed the victory for the Lakers with 3:54 remaining, giving the squad a 14-point lead.

With the win, Clayton State improves to 6-7 on the season and will return to action on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., hosting Edward Waters College in a 7:30 p.m. contest. J.C. Smith drops to 4-5 on the year.

Clayton State led 34-29 at halftime and pushed its lead to eight points, 37-29, on a free throw by Chavis before the Golden Bulls made a run. Consecutive three-pointers by Jerome Givens and Benjamin Chasten gave J.C. Smith a 44-41 lead with 14:22 remaining, setting up Clayton State’s game-winning surge.

Chavis led the attack for Clayton State with a game-high 23 points, hitting 8-of-14 shots from the floor. He also had nine rebounds, four assists and four steals. Puckett finished with 19 points and eight boards, followed by Butts with 16 points.

For J.C. Smith, Benjamin Chasten had 17 points, followed by John Fulton with 14 points and eight rebounds.

Clayton State held J.C. Smith to 39 percent (19-of-49) from the floor and forced 26 turnovers. The Lakers hit 45 percent (29-of-64) from the field.

WEST GA VS. ALBANY STATE

In the Classic’s first game, the State University of West Georgia kept its unbeaten streak alive and won a milestone victory for head coach Ed Murphy. The Braves captured their 12 straight victory and Murphy won his 450^th career contest.

The Braves took the lead midway through the first half and never looked back. West Georgia led 44-36 at halftime and broke the game wide open in the final six minutes of the contest. Leading by 11 points, 80-69, with 6:41 remaining, the Braves went on a 13-4 run over a two-minute stretch. Darnell Miller gave the Braves a 93-73 lead with 4:14 remaining to seal the win.

Miller led the attack, posting a “triple-double” with 15 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds. Ryan Madry led the scoring attack with 21 points, followed by Tamal Forchion with 19 points. Rob Neal chipped in 15 points.

For Albany State, Nick Wallery finished with 33 points, followed by Jarrett Mathis with 31 points. Frank Pinson added 15 in the losing effort.

Albany State drops to 2-4 on the season with the loss.

Clayton State men blister UMass-Dartmouth 81-53; Butts and Holmes lead the way with 20 points apiece

Morrow, GA — December 27, 2004 – The Clayton College & State University men’s basketball raced out to an early lead and never looked back Wednesday, blistering the University of Massachusetts -Dartmouth 81-53 in the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Clayton State took a double-digit lead, 20-9, with 12:03 remaining on a jumper by senior Craig Butts and pushed its lead to 20 points, 33-13, on a layup by senior Carlton Holmes. A three-pointer by freshman Michael Sloan with 3:19 remaining gave the Lakers their largest of the half 45-20.

The Lakers maintained the pressure in the second half, taking a 30-point advantage on three-pointer by senior Justin Levy two minutes into the half. Clayton State led by more than 20 points for the remainder of the contest and took its largest lead of 32 points, 81-49, on a three-pointer by senior Rashad Williams with 1:19 remaining.

With the win, the Lakers improve to 5-7 on the season, while UMass-Dartmouth drops to 4-5 on the year. Clayton State will return to action on Thursday, facing Johnson C. Smith at 8 p.m. on the second day of the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic. J.C. Smith fell to West Georgia 102-84 in the first game of the Classic. West Georgia will take on Albany State University in a 6 p.m. game on Wednesday in the Classic, while UMass Dartmouth will face Edward Waters at 2 p.m. on Friday at Clayton State.

Butts and Holmes led the Lakers in the victory each scoring 20 points. Butts hit of 9-14 shots and pulled 10 rebounds, while Holmes hit 10-of-16 shots from the floor. Senior B.J. Puckett chipped in 10 points for Clayton State, while senior Darien Chavis added nine.

For UMass-Dartmouth, Tishon Crawley scored 13 points, followed by Chris Lapriore with 11 points.

Clayton State shot 46 percent (35-of-77) from the floor, while holding UMass-Dartmouth to 35 percent (20-of-57). The Lak

Clayton State’s Butts and Puckett power Lakers to 82-72 Peach Belt victory over rival Columbus State

Clayton State holds off USC Aiken 61-58; to host PBC South Division co-leader Columbus State on Wed.

WEST GA VS. ALBANY STATE

Clayton State holds off USC Aiken 61-58; to host
PBC South Division co-leader Columbus State on Wed.