MORROW, Ga. – February 4, 2009 – The Clayton State Laker men appeared primed to bounce back from Monday’s defeat at ninth-ranked USC Aiken on Wednesday. The Lakers were at home and the opponent was a reeling Columbus State.

However, the Cougars didn’t look like a team that had lost seven of their last eight games. Behind the stellar shooting of Sean Miller, Columbus State swept the season from Clayton State for a second straight season with a 73-62 victory over the Lakers at the Athletics and Fitness Center. The defeat drops Clayton State to 12-8 overall and 5-8 in the Peach Belt Conference.

Miller was on fire for Columbus State (6-12, 4-8 PBC) scored a career-high 32 points on 8-for-14 shooting from 3-point range. He connected on four in the first half as the Cougars used an 8-0 run to stretch their lead to 31-20 at the 4:26 mark.

The Cougars went up by 11 points two more times before an alley-oop dunk in transition by Clayton State’s Ricky Garrett trimmed the deficit to 36-27 at halftime.

The Lakers tried hard to make a run at Columbus State in the second half. But every time Clayton State made a move, Columbus State had an answer.

Clayton State made a late run in the second half to get back within striking distance. Trailing 56-47, the Lakers got back in it with six straight points. A breakaway dunk by Bernard Fields gave Clayton State some momentum as the Lakers trailed 56-53 with 5:33 left.

But Miller answered on the Cougars’ ensuing possession with a 3-point basket from the left wing. Columbus State extended the lead to 11 points, 65-54 on a four-point play off a made 3-point basket by Javarus Stewart at the 2:13 mark.

The Lakers never got closer than eight points after that.

Fields and senior forward Brian Kelly each scored 14 points for Clayton State. Will Lewis scored 11 points off the bench, and Freddie Williams scored 10 points. Junior point guard Eric Wilson dished out nine assists for the Lakers, who shot 50 percent from the field.

In addition to Miller, Stewart scored 14 points for Columbus State.

Clayton State travels to Augusta State for a key Peach Belt showdown on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.