GREENWOOD, S.C. --- MARCH 2, 2007 --- The Clayton State Lakers increased their chances for an NCAA Division II National Tournament bid and gained a measure of revenge in the process on Friday in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.

Clayton State held USC-Upstate to its lowest scoring output of the season with a 63-43 victory in the Peach Belt quarterfinals at Lander’s Horne Arena. The victory improves 25^th-ranked Clayton State to 22-6 overall, and the Lakers advance to Saturday’s 6 p.m. semifinals against the winner of Friday’s Georgia College/Augusta State matchup.

In addition, the Lakers have now won 10 of their last 11 games against USC-Upstate and they avenged last season’s 69-68 heartbreaking quarterfinal defeat against the Spartans.

“This was very satisfying for our guys,” said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. “We were ready to play and it was a big team win.”

Just like the regular season game between the two teams (a 74-49 Clayton State victory), the Lakers’ perimeter defense clamped down on a strong shooting USC-Upstate team. Clayton State limited the Spartans to only 32 percent shooting from the field, including a measly 13 percent (3-for-23) from 3-point range.

In addition, the Lakers out-rebounded USC-Upstate 42-26.

Clayton State jumped out quick from the outset, scoring the first seven points in the game. After USC-Upstate trimmed the Laker lead to 15-8, Clayton State responded with 13-0 run as Todd McLaurin and Michael Sloan each scored five points during the rally. McLaurin’s jump shot from the baseline gave the Lakers a 28-8 lead with 5:52 remaining.

USC-Upstate got back within striking distance with a 10-0 run, but McLaurin answered with two fall-away jumpers in the final minute to give Clayton State a 32-20 lead.

Clayton State scored eight of the first 10 points in the second half and its lead never slipped below nine points. USC-Upstate cut the deficit to 10 points twice, including 48-38 on Preston Eppinger’s tip-in with 7:45 remaining. But Clayton State allowed the Spartans only one field goal for the final 7:45 of the game and finished it out on a 15-5 run.

“We knew they weren’t going to score in the post, so we had to guard the perimeter,” Gibbons said. “Our total team defense was key. Their top three perimeter players (Byrd, Daniel Quinlan and Luke Payne) were a combined 1-for-17 from 3-point range.”

McLaurin paced Clayton State with 15 points, while Sloan scored 14 points and forward John Beugnot recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Lakers shot 54 percent from the field in the second half.

For USC-Upstate (17-11), Zac Rich scored 10 points and Ante Pikunic grabbed 11 rebounds. Quinlan, who entered the game averaging 14 points and shooting 40 percent from 3-point range, was held to eight points on 2-for-15 shooting from the field and 1-for-9 from 3-point range.