Gibbons releases 2006-07 Laker men’s basketball schedule

Six Division II National Tournament teams highlight this season’s Clayton State slate

2006-07 Clayton State Men's Basketball Schedule
MORROW, Ga. --- SEPTEMBER 8, 2006 --- Expectations are high for the Clayton State Lakers in the upcoming men’s basketball season, and their 2006-07 schedule is proof of that. Head coach Gordon Gibbons released the schedule on Thursday, and it is one of the Lakers’ toughest in recent seasons.

Highlighting the 2006-07 schedule includes six teams that advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, one NAIA National Tournament qualifier and more strong regional teams. Four of those national tournament qualifiers alone come from the Peach Belt Conference.

"We will face an extremely challenging schedule with an experienced team and see what happens," said Gibbons, who is 97-49 entering his sixth season at the Laker helm. "We will see traditional national and regional powers at nearly every turn. Our team is looking forward to the start."

The pre-Peach Belt Conference slate will present many challenges to the Lakers. Clayton State will face an early challenge with a Nov. 27 showdown at NCAA Division II National Tournament qualifier North Alabama of the Gulf South Conference. This will be the first ever matchup for the Lakers against the Lions, which won the Division II National Championship in 1979 and 1991.

In addition, Clayton State will play in the Catawba Walt Baker Classic on Dec. 1-2 against traditional South Atlantic Conference powers Lenoir-Rhyne and Catawba.

Clayton State's non-conference home games is highlighted by the Heritage Bank Holiday Classicon Dec. 29-31. The Lakers will play host to Texas-Permian Basion, Edward Waters and Arkansas-Monticello, another Gulf South squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II National Tournament last season. Clayton State will also play an old NAIA rival from the early days of Laker basketball on Dec. 19 against Lee. The Flames are coming off a 24-9 season in which they advanced to the NAIA National Tournament

Finally, Clayton State will renew the home-and-home series in its spirited in-state Division II rivalry against West Georgia. The Lakers will host West Georgia on Dec. 6, and then travel to Carrollton on Dec. 16. This rivalry pits two of the more colorful head coaches at the Division II level – Gibbons and West Georgia’s Ed Murphy.

In the Peach Belt Conference, the Lakers will face four NCAA Division II National Tournament teams in Armstrong Atlantic, Columbus State, Georgia College and USC-Upstate. Clayton State opens the season at home on Nov. 21 against Southeastern, which won the NCCAA (National Christian College Athletic Association) National Championship in 2005.

Clayton State is coming off a 21-7 mark last season, and the Lakers return seven of their top 10 players, including the top four scorers from last season.