Georgia College hands 25th-ranked Clayton State men first season defeat 58-49
Williams scores 17 points as Lakers drop to 9-1 and 2-1 in PBC

MORROW, Ga. – January 5, 2009 – Looking to build in its momentum from Saturday’s thrilling victory over Augusta State, the 25th-ranked Clayton State Laker men’s basketball could not find its offensive rhythm on Monday, dropping a 58-49 decision to visiting Georgia College at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

The defeat was the first on the season for Clayton State, now 9-1 overall and 2-1 in the Peach Belt Conference.

Clayton State played a good enough defensive game to win. The Lakers held Georgia College 33 points under its average coming into the game. In addition, the Bobcats shot just 38 percent from the field, including only 32 percent from 3-point range.

But the Lakers had their woes offensively, connecting on only 33 percent from the field, including 20 percent (4-for-20) from 3-point range.

After taking a 7-3 lead, Clayton State managed only four field goals in the final 17 minutes of the first half. Georgia College, meanwhile, countered with an 18-5 run to take an eight-point lead as

Justin Brown, Shaun Keaton and Jake Rios each drained 3-poin baskets to give the Bobcats a 21-12 lead with 5:12 remaining.

Clayton State could not get closer than seven points in the first half as Ty Rowland’s running jumper in the lane gave Georgia College a 28-16 halftime lead.

The Bobcats extended the lead to 16 points early in the second half before Clayton State methodically mounted a rally.

Brian Kelly and Tre Goss each scored to trim the Georgia College lead to 10 points. After the Bobcats increased the lead back to 13 points, the Lakers answered as Freddie Williams scored on a driving lay-up, and Bernard Fields’ 3-point basket cut the deficit to 40-34 with 11:03 remaining.

Fields connected on another 3-point bomb to cut the Georgia College lead to four points. Finally, two free throws by Williams trimmed the Bobcat lead to 48-45 at the 3:02 mark. That, however, was as close as the Lakers would get.

Georgia College got two key put-backs from Ken Kemp and Josh Hurst to push the lead back to seven points with 1:16 remaining.

Williams scored 17 points to pace Clayton State, while Fields scored nine points. For Georgia College (7-1, 1-1 PBC), Graham Martin scored 15 points and Rios scored 12 points off the bench.

Clayton State travels to in-state archrival Columbus State on Wednesday for a 5:30 p.m. Peach Belt showdown.