Clayton State ranked 22nd in Division II Bulletin preseason men’s Top 25
Lakers one of three Peach Belt Conference teams nationally-ranked

MORROW, Ga. – October 13, 2008 – Fresh off a huge finish to the 2007-08 season, the expectations are once again high for the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team. It’s showing in the national preseason polls.

Division II Bulletin released its preseason Division II Top 25 over the weekend, and Clayton State is ranked 22nd in the poll. It is the third time in the last four seasons that the Lakers have been ranked nationally in the preseason.

Head coach Gordon Gibbons returns two starters and eight letterwinners from last season’s 19-15 squad that shocked the Division II basketball world by winning the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship as a seventh seed. That was followed by advancing to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division II National Tournament for the first time in program history.

"It is always exciting for our program to be recognized in the polls this time of year as we prepare for the season," said Gibbons, 140-72 in seven seasons at the Laker helm. "To be mentioned with the national elite always energizes our campus and fan base."

Clayton State is one of three teams ranked from the Peach Belt Conference. Defending Peach Belt Conference regular season champion USC Aiken, who Clayton State defeated both in the PBC Tournament championship and the first round of the NCAA Division II National Tournament, is ranked fifth in the nation, while Augusta State, last season’s NCAA Division II National runner-up, is ranked 10th.

Clayton State opens its 2008-09 season with a bang, playing host to in-state rival West Georgia on Nov. 20 at the Athletics and Fitness Center.