Second-ranked Lakers survive 67-64 scare in conference opener at Georgia Southwestern
McLaurin nails 3-point basket as time expired as Clayton State remains undefeated

AMERICUS, Ga. --- JANUARY 3, 2007 --- Clayton State got more than it bargained for and then some in its Peach Belt Conference opener on Wednesday at conference newcomer Georgia Southwestern.

The scrappy Hurricanes gave the second-ranked Lakers all it could handle for the entire game. However, a running 40-foot 3-point basket by Todd McLaurin at the buzzer was the game-winner as Clayton State escaped the Storm Dome with a thrilling 67-64 victory. The victory keeps Clayton State undefeated on the 2006-07 season, improving to an unprecedented 12-0 overall.

“I told the team that every conference game is will be a war,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. “We have to be prepared, and that means going hard every practice. I thought Georgia Southwestern was well-prepared tonight.”

Leading by two points at halftime, Clayton State opened the second half with a 10-point lead, 37-27 in the first couple of minutes. However, Georgia Southwestern responded with a 10-1 run to trim the lead to one point. Clayton State again extended the lead to eight points, but the Hurricanes again answered with an 8-0 to tie the game at 48-48 with 9:47 remaining.

Over the next six minutes, neither team had larger than a two-point lead when Clayton State’s Michael Sloan nailed a key 3-point basket with 1:17 remaining to give the Lakers a 64-61 lead. Georgia Southwestern trimmed the lead to one on Norbey Aragon’s lay-up with 21 seconds remaining.

With a chance to ice the game, Clayton State’s Brandon Kelley missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity with 18 seconds remaining. Georgia Southwestern had one final shot, but Aristide Sawadogo blocked a 15-foot jump shot attempt by the Hurricanes’ Adrian Robinson.

However, on the loose ball, Georgia Southwestern’s Ross Knight was fouled with 1.4 seconds remaining, giving the Hurricanes the final shot at the monumental upset. But Knight missed the first free throw and made the second to tie the score.

Following a time-out, Kelley fed a running McLaurin who nailed the running bank shot as time expired.

“That 10-point lead was huge, especially on the road,” Gibbons said. “We were able to keep the lead most of the half, but they had a chance with four minutes remaining.”

McLaurin scored 16 points to pace the Lakers, while Sloan scored 15 points. For Georgia Southwestern (7-4, 0-1), Aragon and Shawn King both scored 15 points, while Sean Cowley had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Clayton State plays host to Francis Marion on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.