Sawadogo spearheads Clayton State to
season-opening victory
Senior center scores career-high 14 points as Lakers roll past Southeastern 83-53

MORROW, Ga. --- NOVEMBER 21, 2006 --- For three seasons, Clayton State Laker fans have waited for Aristide Sawadogo to play up to the potential that he’s been blessed with in a Laker uniform. On Tuesday, Laker supporters saw the start of what could be a great season for Sawadogo and Clayton State.

Sawadogo, a towering 7-foot-1 center, played his best game yet in a Laker uniform as Clayton State opened the 2006-07 season with an 83-53 rout over visiting Southeastern at the Athletics and Fitness Center. Sawadogo poured in a career-high 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting from the field and grabbed eight rebounds in the victory.

Clayton State, ranked eighth nationally in Division II, is now 12-5 all-time in season openers.

After struggling much of the first half offensively, Sawadogo ignited the Lakers in the second half with 12 points as Clayton State quickly extended a 14-point halftime lead. He scored eight points in the first four minutes of the second half to give the Lakers a 44-24 lead with 15:45 remaining.

The closest Southeastern cut the deficit in the second half was 21 points, but Clayton State continued to build the lead feeding off its defensive pressure. The Lakers extended the lead to 31 points 69-38 on Sawadogo’s lay-up at the 6:59 mark, and a lay-up by Brian Kelly with 2:59 remaining made the Clayton State lead 76-44.

The Lakers’ largest lead was 34 points twice in the final minute of the contest.

In addition to Sawadogo, Brandon Kelley scored 13 points for the Lakers, while reserve center Jerome Boyd had a successful Clayton State debut with 12 points on 6-for-8 shooting from the field. Michael Sloan scored 10 points and four steals for Clayton State, while John Beugnot added nine points and eight rebounds.

For the game, Clayton State shot 49 percent from the field and 71 percent from the free throw line. Defensively, the Laker pressure defense forced 34 Southeastern turnovers, and Clayton State out-rebounded Southeastern 36-26.

For Southeastern (3-4), Israel Galloway paced the Fire with 11 points, while 6-10 center Kiel Walker scored nine points and grabbed eight rebounds.

Clayton State hits the road on Monday for a tough challenge at North Alabama. Tip off is set for 8 p.m.