Second-ranked Lakers out-last determined Lander 70-63 in PBC showdown

MORROW, Ga. --- JANUARY 13, 2007 --- It was a battle of division leaders in the Peach Belt Conference on Saturday night as Clayton State played host to Lander. The game lived up to its billing, but in the end, Clayton State again proved its worth.

Fresh off its overtime thriller against Armstrong Atlantic on Wednesday, Clayton State again had a fight on its hands against the scrappy Bearcats. However, the Lakers remained undefeated on the season with a hard-fought 70-63 victory over Lander at the Athletics and Fitness Center. With the victory, the second-ranked Lakers improve to an unprecedented 15-0 overall and 4-0 in the Peach Belt Conference.

For the fourth straight game, the Lakers again got off to a slow start as Lander raced out to an early 9-3 lead. However, Clayton State regained the lead that it would never relinquish on a huge 3-point basket from the top of the key by Jeff Trotter to give the Lakers a 17-16 lead with 7:25 remaining.

Clayton State extended its lead to as many as 10 points as Michael Sloan scored on a driving lay-up to give the Lakers a 31-21 lead with 1:07 remaining. However, Lander cut the lead in half on a 75-foot desperation 3-point bomb by Zach Evans as time expired.

The Lakers were never in any real trouble in the second half, but never could put Lander away. Every time Clayton State would take a double-digit lead, the Bearcats would respond with a 3-point basket. In fact, Lander went on an 8-0 run as Jarred Jackson converted three free throws, and then nailed a 24-foot 3-point basket to pull the Bearcats to within two points, 51-49 with seven minutes remaining.

But Clayton State responded as Michael Sloan drained a 3-point basket from the top of the key on the ensuing possession, and then Trotter’s alley-oop dunk increased the Laker lead to nine points, 58-49 with 4:47 remaining.

The closest Lander got after than was four points. Meanwhile, Clayton State increased its lead to 10 points, 65-55 on a lay-up by John Beugnot.

Sloan and Brandon Kelley each scored 13 points for the Lakers, while Todd McLaurin scored 10 points off the bench, and Trotter added nine points. Beugnot recorded a game-high 10 rebounds, while the Lakers as a team committed only 11 turnovers and shot 60 percent from the field in the second half.

For Lander (8-6, 3-1), Jackson scored 19 points, followed by Michael Griffin with 16 points and Evans added 10 points.

Clayton State puts its national ranking and undefeated record on the line on Wednesday as the Lakers travel to arch-rival Columbus State for a 7:30 p.m. showdown.