Clayton State drops 61-59 stunner at North Georgia
Kelley scores 13 as 13^th-ranked Lakers drop to 20-5 overall and 9-5 in Peach Belt Conference

DAHLONEGA, Ga. --- FEBRUARY 17, 2006 --- Playing its final road contest of the 2006-07 regular season, the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team hoped to rebound from Wednesday’s disappointing home defeat against Georgia Southwestern. But home standing North Georgia pulled off a 61-59 stunner over Clayton State at Memorial Hall Gymnasium.

The defeat drops 13^th-ranked Clayton State to 20-5 overall and 9-5 in the Peach Belt Conference.

The Lakers were playing shorthanded, with senior guard Todd McLaurin and junior reserve center Jerome Boyd both out with minor injuries. With that in mind, Clayton State wasn’t as offensively effective, shooting only 38 percent from the field and 23 percent from 3-point range.

Still, Clayton State jumped out twice to an eight-point lead in the first half. John Beugnot’s lay-up at the 8:14 mark gave the Lakers a 22-14 lead. However, North Georgia responded with a 13-0 run. Two Jakirra Millsap free throws gave the Saints a 23-22 lead with 4:38 remaining, and then Anthony Rowe’s lay-up increased the lead to 27-22 at the 3:25 mark.

On the aid of a Saints’ technical foul, Clayton State rallied to tie it twice, and then took a 34-32 lead on Jeff Trotter’s lay-up with six seconds remaining in the half.

The Lakers’ largest lead in the second half was eight points, and Brandon Kelley’s 3-point basket at the 7:45 mark gave Clayton State a 56-49 lead. But North Georgia again responded, this time with a 9-0 run as Ryan Franklin gave the Saints a 58-56 lead on a 3-point basket at the 3:42 mark.

Kelley responded with another 3-point basket to reclaim the lead for Clayton State, and neither team scored for the next three minutes.

Having possession with 21 seconds remaining, North Georgia’s Jay Anderson was fouled, and sank two free throws with 17 seconds remaining to give the Saints a 60-59 lead. Clayton State had the final possession, but Kelley’s 3-point attempt was off the mark with a little more than a second remaining.

Kelley scored 13 points to pace Clayton State, while Beugnot recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Center Aristide Sawadogo added eight points and six rebounds for the Lakers.

For North Georgia (6-19, 2-12 Peach Belt), Anderson scored a game-high 24 points, while Franklin scored 15 points. The Saints shot 76 percent (19-for-25) from the free throw line.

Clayton State plays the first of its final two regular season home games on Wednesday with a Top 25 Peach Belt showdown against Augusta State at 7:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.