Wednesday, January 18, 2006

SAINTS TOPPLE LAKERS 85-73 IN PBC MEN'S HOOPS

Morrow, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's basketball team had an eight-game winning streak snapped Wednesday, falling 85-73 to North Georgia College & State University in Peach Belt Conference action at the Athletics & Fitness Center. 

Clayton State raced to a quick seven-point, 12-5, advantage in the first four minutes of the game on a steal and dunk by Michael Sloan only to have the Saints march to a 19-4 run over the next seven minutes and take an eight-point lead, 24-16, on one of two free throws by Mark Causey. 

The Lakers cut into the deficit and trailed by only five points on two free throws by Brandon Kelley with 4:43 remaining but North Georgia closed the half with a 10-4 run and took a 41-30 lead at intermission. Causey and Charles Mitchell did most of the damage for the Saints in the first half with 16 and 14 points, respectively in the period. 

In the second half, North Georgia pushed its lead to 15 points in the first five minutes on two occasions but Clayton State battled back over the next five to cut the lead to nine, 54-45, on a three-pointer by Kelley with 10:09 left. 

The Saints re-extended their lead to 15 points three minutes later on a three-point play by Matt Causey to take a 64-49 lead, and once again the Lakers answered. An 11-4 run over the next two minutes capped on a rebound and put-back by junior John Begunot cut the lead to 68-60 with 4:31 left, but that was as close as the Lakers would come. 

North Georgia came right back with six straight points and led 74-60 on two Matt Causey free throws at the 3:07 mark. Clayton State cut the lead to eight on three occasions in the final 1:30 but the Saints hit 7-of-8 from the free throw line to seal the victory. 

Clayton State took 24 more shots from the field than the Saints, had five more field goals and won the turnover statistic 25-19, but North Georgia had a decisive advantage at the free three throw line, hitting 34-of-44, while the Lakers hit 12-of-17. 

With the loss, Clayton State drops to 11-3 overall and 4-3 in the Peach Belt, while North Georgia improves to 8-5 overall and 5-3 in the league. The Lakers will return to action on Saturday, hosting Francis Marion in a 4 p.m. game, while North Georgia will host Armstrong Atlantic State University on Saturday at 4 p.m. 

For Clayton State, Todd McLaurin led the attack with 20 points, followed by Kelley with 18 points. Beugnot chipped in nine points and had seven boards. 

Matt Causey, the PBC's leading scorer, finished with a game-high 29 points, including 15-of-16 from the free throw line. Mitchell added a season high 23 points along with Mark Causey who chipped in 17 points. 

Box Score

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