Hot-shooting West Georgia rolls past Clayton State men 84-58
Sloan scores 16 points in Lakers’ first defeat of 2007-08 season

MORROW, Ga. - November 20, 2007 – What was billed as a big early-season Division II showdown within the state of Georgia turned out to be a disaster for the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team as it dropped a stunning 84-58 decision against visiting in-state rival West Georgia on Tuesday at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

The defeat evens the Lakers’ mark at 1-1 on the young season. However, it was largest margin of defeat for Clayton State at home since an 81-55 defeat against West Georgia in the 2000-01 season. It’s also the biggest margin of defeat at home for the Lakers under current head coach Gordon Gibbons.

West Georgia put on an offensive clinic, shooting 53 percent from the field for the game, including 56 percent (12-for-22) from 3-point range, and 77 percent from the 3-point line.

In the first half, Clayton State twice held an early six-point lead before West Georgia took control with some stellar perimeter shooting.

Adam Stanger gave the Wolves a 19-18 lead on a jump shot from the free throw line with 8:02 remaining, and then a 3-point basket by Anthony Washington increased the West Georgia lead to 25-18 with 6:11 remaining.

Clayton State cut the lead to two points on a 3-point basket by Tracy Williams and a jump shot by Bernard Fields. However, West Georgia finished the half on an 11-3 run as Terrence Hundley and Doug Daniels finished off the first half with consecutive 3-point baskets and a 41-31 West Georgia lead at the break.

In the second half alone, West Georgia turned it up a notch offensively, shooting a whopping 62 percent from the field and 63 percent from 3-point range. The closest Clayton State could trim the lead was to 11 points early in the half, but the Wolves stretched the lead to 29 points on a 3-point basket by Daniels and a baseline jump shot by Hendrick Foster.

West Georgia’s largest lead of the game 30 points 81-51 on a put-back by Washington with 2:17 remaining.

For Clayton State, Michael Sloan scored 16 points to pace the Lakers, followed by Fields with 12 points off the bench. Junior forward Brian Kelly grabbed seven rebounds and junior guard Trey Goss recorded seven assists.

Daniels paced West Georgia (3-0) with 25 points off the bench on 9-for-13 shooting from the field and 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range. Hundley scored 19 points and dished out nine assists, followed by Foster with 14 points.

Clayton State opens up Peach Belt Conference play on Saturday at 4 p.m., playing host to USC-Aiken at the Athletics and Fitness Center.