|
However, Clayton State shot the ball tremendously in the second half en route to a 93-84 victory over Baseline USA at the Athletics and Fitness Center. This is the seventh time these two teams have played each other in preseason exhibitions, and only once has the winning margin been by more than 10 points. It was a homecoming for former Clayton State standouts Brandon Kelley and Michael Sloan, and neither disappointed their fans. Sloan connected on a game-high 26 points on six 3-point baskets, while Kelley scored 10 points with four assists. However, four Lakers scored in double-figures and the Lakers shot 59 percent from the field in the second half to pull out the victory. After the Lakers held a three-point lead at halftime, Baseline USA continued to keep it close, trailing at one point by only two points. But it was spark by sophomore Jonathan Austin that got Clayton State going offensively in the final 10 minutes. Clinging to a five-point lead, Austin drained a jump shot in the lane, increasing the Laker lead to 61-54 with 9:56 remaining. On the ensuing possession, Austin rebounded a missed Baseline jumper, dribbled his way through traffic and drained another jump shot from the free throw, increasing the Laker lead to nine points. Austin followed with a 3-point basket at the 7:55 mark to give the Lakers a 69-58 lead, and his lay-up in transition made the Clayton State lead 80-65 with 3:39 remaining. A 3-point play by Freddie Williams with 3:23 remaining gave the Lakers their largest lead of the game, 83-65. Baseline USA made a game of it in the waning minutes. Sloan drained three straight 3-point baskets to cut the Laker lead to nine points 87-78 with 1:06 remaining. A lay-up by Wallace Prather with 52 seconds remaining trimmed the Clayton State lead to seven points, but that was as close as Baseline USA would get. Williams paced four Clayton State players in double-figures scoring with 23 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the field, while Bernard Fields scored 17 points on 5-for-6 shooting from the field. Austin was tremendous off the bench with 12 points, followed by Brian Kelly with 10 points. For the game, Clayton State shot 53 percent from the field and an impressive 79 percent (19-for-24) from the free throw line. In addition to Sloan, Prather scored 14 points for Baseline USA, followed by DeJuan Clark with 11 points. Joe Hamilton scored all 10 of his points in the second half, helping trigger a tremendous run in which Baseline USA wiped out an early 13-1 Clayton State lead and led by as many as five points in the first half. Clayton State officially opens the 2008-09 season on Thursday (Nov. 20), playing host to heated in-state rival West Georgia at the Athletics and Fitness Center. |
MORROW,
Ga. – November 14, 2008 –