FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-25-06

Men's College Basketball: Clayton State 66, AASU 49

Release Courtesy of Clayton State Sports Information

MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State men's basketball team turned in another splendid defensive effort Wednesday, picking up a pivotal 66-49 Peach Belt Conference victory over Armstrong Atlantic State at the Athletics & Fitness Center.

Clayton State, with the nation's fourth-ranked defense, held Armstrong Atlantic to under 50 points and under 40 percent (17-of-43) shooting from the floor to pick up the win. The defense effort comes on the heels of an effort on Saturday when the Laker defense held Francis Marion to only 39 points in the game.

After falling behind in the early minutes of the game, 11-5 on a AASU three-pointer by Tory Harris, Clayton State responded with a 23-12 run over the final 14 minutes of the period and took a 36-23 lead at intermission.

Clayton State shot a sizzling 58 percent (15-of-26) in the opening period and was led by guard Todd McLaurin's 11 points. He scored all 11 of his first half points in the stretch, including a basket with 45 seconds remaining to give the squad a 13-point lead at halftime.

Clayton State led by double-digits for most of the second half, allowing the Pirates to cut the deficit to nine points twice. A Bryan Taylor layup with 14:49 remaining, cut the Laker lead to 44-35, but Clayton State answered immediately to push its lead back to 11 points with a basket by T.J. Waldon.

Leading 52-41 with six minutes left, Clayton State went on a 14-4 run over a four-minute stretch to put the game out of the reach. A Michael Sloan free throw at the 2:07 mark capped the run, giving the Lakers a 21-point, 66-45 advantage.

With the win, Clayton State improves to 14-3 overall and 7-3 in the Peach Belt, while Armstrong Atlantic drops to 13-4 overall and 7-3 in the league. The Lakers, currently tied for third in the Peach Belt, will travel Saturday to GC&SU and take on the Bobcats, who are in second in the league after falling 86-81 to leader Columbus State on Wednesday. Armstrong Atlantic will host Columbus State on Saturday.

McLaurin, the Peach Belt's second-leading scorer, led Clayton State with 17 points, followed by Sloan with 14 points, hitting 6-of-6 from the field. Brandon Kelley chipped in 11 points.

For Armstrong Atlantic, Harris led the Pirates with 10 points, followed by Jamaal Galloway with nine. The Lakers held AASU leading scorer and rebounder Bryan Taylor to eight points and three rebounds.

Clayton State finished the game, hitting 50 percent (27-of-54) from the floor. Clayton State outrebounded the Pirates 33-23 and had only 11 turnovers compared to 15 for the Pirates.

-Pirates-