Milestone! Lakers get Gibbons 100^th victory in 68-49 rout over Lenoir-Rhyne
Kelley, Sloan each score 18 as sixth-ranked Clayton State improves to 3-0 overall
 

SALISBURY, N.C. --- DECEMBER 1, 2006 --- The Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team made an early-season statement and picked up a milestone victory for head coach Gordon Gibbons all in one game on Friday night.

Playing Lenoir-Rhyne in the Walt Baker Classic at Catawba, the Lakers used a brilliant first half and coasted to a convincing 68-49 victory at Goodman Gymnasium. The victory kept sixth-ranked Clayton State undefeated on the 2006-07 season at 3-0. Furthermore, Gibbons became the first head coach in the 16 years of men’s basketball at Clayton State to reach 100 career victories.

Now in his sixth season, Gibbons is 100-49 at Clayton State, and 346-112 in his 16^th season of coaching at the Division II level.

“The most important thing about something like that is consistency, and we’ve been consistently strong since arriving in 2001,” said Gibbons. “And now for this team to be ranked high nationally and have two key road victories under our belts, that makes 100 very sweet.”

The Lakers made sure Gibbons wouldn’t sweat too much for the milestone, as they totally dominated a strong Lenoir-Rhyne team in the first half. Clayton State shot 56 percent from the field in the opening half, including a whopping 75 percent (9-for-12) from 3-point range. Defensively, the Lakers limited Lenoir-Rhyne to only six field goals and 35 percent shooting from the field.

All this against a Lenoir-Rhyne team that went 18-10 last season and won the South Atlantic Conference championship. In addition, Lenoir-Rhyne was ranked 17^th in the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25, five spots behind Clayton State.

“We were well-prepared for them, and they (Lenoir-Rhyne) got very frustrated when they couldn’t score,” Gibbons said. “Offensively, we executed well on the perimeter, hitting the open shots, and our half-court defense was real solid.”

A 19-2 run midway in the second half set the tone for Clayton State. The Lakers got five straight 3-point baskets, including two by Michael Sloan, to take a 21-9 lead with 7:39 remaining. Another Sloan 3-point basket increased the Laker lead to 28-11 at the 5:21 mark, and then the junior wing sank another long bomb with 1:31 remaining to give Clayton State a commanding 37-16 lead.

The closest Lenoir-Rhyne was able to trim the deficit in the second half was 16 points, while the Lakers increased their lead to as many as 25 points. A lay-up by Brandon Kelley with 13 minutes remaining made the Clayton State lead 52-27.

Kelley and Sloan each scored 18 points to pace the Lakers, and Sloan was a sizzling 4-for-5 from 3-point range. Junior center Jerome Boyd continued his impressive play off the bench with 10 points on 5-for-8 shooting from the field. For the game, Clayton State shot 51 percent from the field, including 56 percent from 3-point range.

For Lenoir-Rhyne (3-2), Josh Kindred led the way with 16 points, followed by Reggie Bratton with 10 points.

Clayton State plays host Catawba in the Walt Baker Classic on Saturday at 4 p.m.