Second-ranked Laker men roll past arch-rival
Columbus State 76-57
Undefeated Clayton State now 16-0 as McLaurin scores 20 points off the bench

COLUMBUS, Ga. --- JANUARY 17, 2007 --- After a couple of close, tight games at home, the road proved more than kind for the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team on Wednesday as the Lakers rolled to an impressive 76-57 victory at Peach Belt Conference arch-rival Columbus State.

The victory was the 16^th straight to open the season for Clayton State, and the Lakers remain undefeated in the Peach Belt 5-0. Clayton State is tied for first place in the Peach Belt South Division with Augusta State.

“We probably can’t play much better than that on the road,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. “We were definitely prepared. Columbus State was 7-1 at home this season, and they don’t lose often here (the Lumpkin Center). So this is always a big win here.”

Columbus State was playing with its inside force in Alton Hart, who suffered a season-ending injury on Saturday against USC-Aiken. With that in mind, the Lakers knew Columbus State would rely heavily on its perimeter game. Clayton State was ready, limiting the Cougars to only 34 percent shooting from the field and 26 percent from 3-point range.

A team that averages 31 3-point attempts a game, Columbus State was only 5-for-19 from beyond the arc.

“When you lose 20 points and 10 rebounds inside like Hart, that changed the way they had to prepare for this,” Gibbons said. “And whenever you play a team that averages more than 30 3-point attempts a game, you have to hold them to 35 percent from the field and 25 percent from 3-point range. We did just that.”

I wasn’t just the defense that was effective for Clayton State, the Lakers were just as effective on the offensive end. Clayton State shot 51 percent from the field for the game, including 40 percent from 3-point range. In addition, the Lakers dominated the glass, out-rebounding Columbus State 42-30.

Clayton State overcame some early Columbus State bombs from the perimeter to build a 14-point lead in the first half, thanks to a 13-3 midway through. Michael Sloan drained four 3-point baskets for the Lakers in the first half, while Todd McLaurin drained two as the Lakers led 37-24 at halftime.

Columbus State cut the Laker deficit to nine points early in the second half before Clayton State’s precision offense took control. The Lakers built as large as a 23-point lead. McLaurin’s lay-up in transition gave Clayton State a 74-51 lead with 1:18 remaining.

“We were able to get some easy baskets off our defense in the second half, and that was a big difference,” Gibbons said. “But our offense was also fantastic in the second half and we took good care of the basketball.”

McLaurin finished with 20 points off the bench for Clayton State, while Sloan scored 15 points, and Brandon Kelley scored 11 points. Rod Venner added 10 points off the bench for the Lakers

For Columbus State (10-6, 3-2), Corris Portis scored 13 points, followed by Travis Matthews with 12 points and Ron Robinson scored 11 points.

Clayton State travels to the Sandhills of North Carolina this weekend for a 4 p.m. game on Saturday at UNC-Pembroke.