Another heartbreak for Clayton State men in 64-63 defeat at North Georgia
Fields scores 16 points as Lakers fall to 12-12 overall and 5-12 in Peach Belt Conference

DAHLONEGA, Ga. - February 18, 2009 – The heartbreakers continued for the Clayton State Laker men’s basketball team as the Lakers dropped a tough 64-63 Peach Belt Conference squeaker at in-state rival North Georgia on Wednesday.

Clayton State had battled back from a late seven-point deficit and tied the game with three straight free throws by Bernard Fields with nine seconds left. However, North Georgia’s Anthony Rowe was fouled on an offensive rebound with two seconds left, and made the second of two free throws for the difference in the game.

The defeat was the sixth straight for the Lakers, now 12-12 overall and 5-12 in the Peach Belt Conference.

"Our guys showed tonight what they’ve shown all season – never giving up and giving themselves a chance to win," said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. "It was just so unfortunate the way it ended, and unfortunate that we did not have that last chance."

The Lakers wiped out a 3-point North Georgia lead in the first half with a 9-0 run. Jaquas Dobbs drained a baseline jump shot, and then his two free throws at the 3:33 mark gave Clayton State a 25-19 lead. Clayton State then stretched the lead to eight points on a jump shot by Eric Wilson with 1:28 left.

However, the Saints cut the Clayton State lead to 33-29 at halftime as Andre Morgan and LaBrian Lyons drained 3-point baskets in the final 35 seconds of the half.

"That hurt us momentum-wise, and then we started the second half off rather cold in the process," Gibbons said. "Defensively, we really executed well, but we gave up too many uncontested 3-point baskets in transition."

The Lakers built a 5-point lead early in the second half as Jonathan Austin connected twice from 3-point range. But North Georgia responded with an 11-0 run as Xavier T.rice drained a 3-point basket, followed by two straight long-range bombs from Morgan to give the Saints a 48-42 lead at the 10:53 mark.

Twice, Clayton State rallied to tie the game. However, the Saints again came up big as Trice drilled a 3-point basket in transition with 3:39 remaining. His jump shot with 2:13 remaining stretched the North Georgia lead to 60-53.

Fields then scored five points down the stretch, and a 3-point basket by Will Lewis cut the Saint lead to 61-60 with 25 seconds remaining.

Fields paced Clayton State with 16 points, while Ricky Garrett scored 12 points and Dobbs scored 11 points with nine rebounds. Morgan paced North Georgia with 16 points, followed by Trice with 15 points and Rowe added 11 points.

Clayton State travels to Lander on Saturday for a 4 p.m. Peach Belt Conference contest.