Lakers rebound, knock off visiting USC-Aiken 89-73

MORROW, Ga. --- JANUARY 27, 2007 --- After suffering its first defeat of the season on Wednesday at Armstrong Atlantic, one would wonder how the Clayton State Lakers would respond with their first home game in two weeks on Saturday against visiting USC-Aiken.

Respond and respond well is what the Lakers did.

Paced by 23 points by senior guard Todd McLaurin, Clayton State quickly returned it its winning ways with an 89-73 victory over USC-Aiken at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The victory improves second-ranked Clayton State to 18-1 overall and 7-1 in the Peach Belt, one game behind Augusta State for first place in the Peach Belt Conference South Division.

Clayton State has now won four straight games, and seven of its last eight against USC-Aiken.

This was the kind of game head coach Gordon Gibbons and the Lakers needed to play. Clayton State scored the most points a game this season since the 103-58 victory over Carver back on Dec. 8. Also, the Lakers shot 60 percent from the field for the first time this season.

With five 3-point baskets in the first half, the Pacers stayed within striking distance of the Lakers. However, Brandon Kelley’s 3-point basket with two seconds remaining sent Clayton State into the locker-room with a 37-29 halftime lead.

Clayton State then opened the second half with some renewed energy. The Lakers started the half on a 15-2 run to take control as McLaurin and John Beugnot each drained two close-range jump shots. Aristide Sawadogo’s alley-oop dunk then gave the Lakers a 51-31 lead with 14:58 remaining.

The Lakers’ largest lead of the game was 25 points, 73-48 on McLaurin’s lay-up with seven minutes remaining. The closest that USC-Aiken was able to trim the Clayton State was 14 points in the final 20 seconds of the contest. In the second half alone, the Lakers shot 62 percent from the field, including 50 percent from 3-point range, and 82 percent (18-for-22) from the free throw line.

In addition to McLaurin, Michael Sloan poured in 18 points for the Lakers on 6-for-7 shooting from the field, while Kelley scored 10 points and Sawadogo added nine points. Clayton State got 25 points out of its bench.

For USC-Aiken (8-13, 2-6 PBC), Kingsley Oguchi scored 19 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range, while Jakub Gadomski scored 14 points, Seth Leonard scored 13 points and Theo Oates added 10 points. The Pacers shot 50 percent (25-for-50) from the field, and 52 percent from 3-point range with 11 3-point baskets.

Clayton State plays host to in-state Peach Belt arch-rival Columbus State on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.