Clayton State men advance in NCAA Division II National Tournament with another "thriller" over USC Aiken
Williams, Sloan each score 14 points as Lakers advance to South Atlantic Region semifinals

AUGUSTA, Ga. – March 15, 2008 – There was no overtime involved this time, but the "sequel" to the Clayton State-USC Aiken men’s basketball rivalry was once again dramatic.

Fresh off the epic three-overtime thriller in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game last Sunday, Clayton State and USC Aiken met again on Saturday in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional. This time, eighth-seeded Clayton State made some key defensive stops down the stretch and held on for a thrilling 60-58 victory over sixth-ranked and top-seeded USC Aiken at Augusta State’s Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The victory improves the Lakers to 18-14 overall, and Clayton State advances to the Region semifinals for the second straight season with a 7:30 p.m. contest on Sunday against Lenoir-Rhyne at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

“Our team is built around defense. Our team felt like, without a doubt, they could come in here and come out with a victory," said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. "But the one thing you know about Vince Alexander’s teams and about playing USC Aiken, they are not going to quit and they have extremely talented players."

Clayton State has excelled with its defense during the current five-game winning streak, and that was the case on Saturday. The Lakers held a potent Pacer club that came in averaging close to 80 points a game 22 points under their average. Clayton State also limited to USC Aiken to only 36 percent shooting from the field and a mere 18 percent (5-for-27) from 3-point range.

The Lakers never trailed, twice building a 13-point lead both in the first half and in the second half. In fact, Clayton State held a 50-37 lead on a jump shot by Michael Sloan with seven minutes remaining. However, like last weekend’s battle, that’s when USC Aiken again made its move.

The Pacers slowly widdled at the Laker lead as Cordaryl Ballard scored seven straight points with a 3-point basket and a pair of lay-ups, trimming the Clayton State lead to 56-48 with 3:34 remaining. Point guard Job Casimir then converted a 3-point play with a driving lay-up, followed by a lay-up by Chris Commons and the Laker lead was 56-55 at the 1:23 mark.

The Lakers responded as Tracy Williams converted two free throws with 47 seconds remaining, and then added another on an intentional foul on USC Aiken with 19 seconds remaining. However, Ricky Garrett missed two free throws with 13 seconds remaining, and the Pacers capitalized as Jeremy Fears scored on a driving lay-up with eight seconds remaining.

Fears then finished the 3-point play with a free throw and Laker lead again was one point 59-58.

Garrett was again fouled on the inbounds pass. Garrett made his first free throw, but missed the second, giving USC Aiken one final chance. However, Casimir’s off-balanced lay-up attempt hit the side of the backboard as time expired.

Clayton State shot 53 percent for the game and out-rebounded USC Aiken 38-28. Williams and Sloan each scored 14 points to pace the Lakers, while Bernard Fields added 10 points.

For USC Aiken (27-4), Ballard scored 20 points for the Pacers, while Fears scored 16 points. Commons, however, was held 11 points under his average with 11 points, and Casimir added 10 points.