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Clayton State falls to 13-13 overall and 9-10 in the Peach Belt Conference with the defeat. USC-Aiken, meanwhile, clinched the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship with the victory and Augusta State’s 91-83 defeat at Columbus State. The Lakers appeared in control with a 41-35 lead on a free throw by Armel Traore Dit Nignan at the 11:04 mark after holding the Pacers without a field goal over a five-minute span. However, USC-Aiken took the lead with a 10-2 run as Cordaryl Ballard drained a lay-up with eight minutes remaining to give the Pacers a 45-43 lead. Clayton State retook the lead on two Traore Dit Nignan free throws with 5:39 remaining. The Lakers then made a huge defensive stop, but Brian Kelly was whistled for a key offensive foul on the rebound with five minutes remaining. On the ensuing possession, Jeremy Fears gave the Pacers the lead for good, 49-47 on a 3-point basket at the 4:41 mark. That triggered a 9-0 USC-Aiken run as the Pacers increased the lead to 55-47 on a put-back by Chris Commons with 3:09 remaining. The closest Clayton State would cut the lead would be three points, 56-53 on Traore Dit Nignan’s dunk with 1:23 remaining. Down the stretch of the final minute, USC-Aiken converted 9-for-10 from the free throw line to seal the victory. Bernard Fields, making his first start of the season, scored 14 points to pace Clayton State. He scored eight in the first half as the Lakers closed out the half on a 12-0 run to lead 31-27 at halftime, Traore Dit Nignan scored 11 points for the Lakers, who held USC-Aiken to only 37 percent shooting from the field and only 18 percent shooting from 3-point range for the game. Clayton State also out-rebounded USC-Aiken 44-36. For USC-Aiken (24-2, 18-1 PBC), Commons, the nation’s second-leading scorer, finished with 25 points, followed by Fears with 15 points. Clayton State closes out the regular season on Saturday with a 4 p.m. Peach Belt Conference encounter at Francis Marion. |
AIKEN,
S.C. – February 27, 2008 –