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men’s basketball aimed to send six senior players out winners and
build on the new momentum heading into next week’s Peach Belt
Conference Tournament with a victory on Saturday over visiting
Georgia College.However, defeat was snatched out of jaws of victory for the Lakers as Shaun Keaton’s 35-foot basket as time expired lifted Georgia College to a stunning 64-62 victory over Clayton State at the Athletics and Fitness Center. 22nd-ranked Clayton State finishes the regular season 21-6 overall and 10-6 in the Peach Belt. The Lakers will play USC-Upstate on Friday at 1 p.m. in the Peach Belt quarterfinals at Lander. Clayton State was trailing 61-53 with 3:40 remaining when the Lakers battled back with a 9-0 run. Brandon Kelley nailed a 3-point basket to trim the Bobcat lead to five points. After getting a defensive stop, Kelley again came up strong with a baseline jump shot to make the score 61-58 in favor of Georgia College with 1:43 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Michael Sloan got a big steal at midcourt and fed Kelley, who was fouled going for a breakaway lay-up. The senior guard sank two free throws to pull the Lakers to within one point, 61-60 at the 1:06 mark. Georgia College committed a shot clock violation on its next possession, giving Clayton State the ball with 33 seconds remaining. Todd McLaurin then penetrated the lane and fed center Aristide Sawadogo for a monster dunk and a one-point Laker lead with 15 seconds remaining. Georgia College’s Shejdie Shields drove the lane for a possible game-winning lay-up, but missed, and Sawadogo grabbed the rebound and was fouled with five seconds remaining. However, the senior center missed the front end of the one-and-one, and Georgia College center Aaron Clark pushed the ball up court and fed Keaton for the game-winning 3-point basket. Kelley paced Clayton State with 24 points on 4-for-4 shooting from 3-point range and 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Sawadogo scored 14 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had four blocked shots. For the game, Clayton State shot 80 percent from the free throw line and out-rebounded Georgia College 37-28. Clark and Keaton both scored 16 points for Georgia College (18-9, 8-8 Peach Belt). Keaton also burned the Lakers in the first half, nailing a 3-point basket as time expired to give the Bobcats a 34-33 halftime lead. Graham Martin scored 14 points on three 2-point baskets for Georgia College. The Bobcats shot 82 percent from the free throw line. |
