MORROW, Ga. – On August 18, 1997, Clayton State Athletics completed a significant transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. The 2017-18 season marked the 20^th anniversary of that accomplishment. Over a seven week span, the Sports Information Office is releasing the top 20 moments in the NCAA era, one on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday with select exceptions.
  The countdown continues with the No. 7 Moment, Men's Basketball Makes Improbable Run to 2008 NCAA Region Final.
 
In one of the most incredible stories in the history of Clayton State Athletics, the 2007-08 men's basketball team went from being sub-.500 entering the Peach Belt Conference Tournament to not only winning their first ever PBC Tournament Championship but also reaching the NCAA Division II South Region Championship Game.
 
Below are six original releases from that unbelievable run. From the last three games of the four-day PBC Tournament are No. 10 Augusta (March 7, 2008), Georgia College (March 8, 2008) and the championship against No. 5 USC Aiken (March 9, 2008). From the NCAA South Regional, both the preview (March 10, 2008) and recap (March 15, 2008) of the "Sequel" with the No. 5 Pacers, regional semifinal against Lenoir-Rhyne (March 16, 2008) and the regional final vs. Augusta State (March 18, 2008).
  AIKEN, S.C. – The Clayton State Laker men's basketball team is not going down without a fight.
 
For the second straight game in the 2008 Peach Belt Conference Tournament, Clayton State used a late run to pull off another big victory as the Lakers shocked 10^th-ranked Augusta State 63-62 in the Peach Belt Conference quarterfinals at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center. Clayton State, which improves to 15-14 overall, eliminated Augusta State from the tournament for a second straight season.
 
The Lakers will meet the winner of the Columbus State/Georgia College quarterfinal game in the Peach Belt Conference semifinals on Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Convocation Center.
 
"This was a great win for us and it keeps us alive," said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. "Every team's goal is to win your conference championship and advance to the national tournament."
 
After struggling offensively for much of the first half and trailing by 11 points at halftime, Clayton State came alive in the second half. The Lakers opened the half on a 14-4 run to cut the Jaguar lead to one point as Tracy Williams converted a rare four-point play, followed by consecutive lay-ups by Brian Kelly, Will Lewis and Trey Goss.
 
Augusta State increased its lead back to five points, but Clayton State again rallied to tie the game for the first time as Michael Sloan drained a 3-point basket to make the score 46-46 with 9:55 remaining. The Lakers then took their first lead of the game 50-48 as Williams scored on a jump shot and then converted two free throws at the 7:30 mark.
 
With the score tied 50-50, Augusta State went on an 8-1 run to take a 58-51 lead. Demetrius Howard and Ben Madgen both drained 3-point baskets for the Jaguars, and then Madgen scored on a fastbreak lay-up with 3:09 remaining.
 
That's when Clayton State made its final move. Trailing 62-56, Sloan brought the Lakers to within three points with a 3-point basket at the top of the key with 1:10 remaining. Clayton State then forced a turnover in its press, leading to a game-tying 3-point basket by Bernard Fields with 58 seconds remaining.
 
The defensive play of the game then occurred on Augusta State's ensuing possession when Lewis recorded a big steal from the Jaguars' Tyrekus Bowman with 58 seconds remaining. Lewis then gave Clayton State a one-point lead with 20 seconds remaining on a free throw.
 
Augusta State had one final shot at the victory, but two jump shots by Bowman were off the mark as time expired.
 
"This game was different from most in that we were down early, but the biggest thing we preach to our guys is that you play the first half to get to the second half," Gibbons said. "I thought we really responded in the second half with our defense and our press, and that's always the key for us. That was big when the game was on the line."
 
Williams scored a career-high 23 points for Clayton State, while Fields scored 11 points and Sloan added 10 points. In the second half, the Lakers were 6-for-11 (55 percent) from 3-point range.
 
For Augusta State (22-6), Bowman, the Peach Belt Conference co-Player of the Year, scored 15 points, followed by Garret Siler with 12 points and Howard scored 11 points.
  AIKEN, S.C. – It's back to the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game for the Clayton State Laker men's basketball team.
 
Behind a combination of solid shooting and a stellar defensive effort, seventh-seeded Clayton State continued its magical run through the 2008 Peach Belt Conference Tournament with a 73-65 victory over third-seeded Georgia College at the USC Aiken Convocation Center on Saturday. Clayton State improves to 16-14 overall, and the Lakers advance to the PBC title game for the second straight season.
 
Clayton State will meet the winner of the North Georgia/USC-Aiken semifinal winner on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.
 
"These guys have felt all year long like we could beat anybody, now I think they know they can," said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. "Our team is feeling confident right now and I expect us to play very well tomorrow."
 
Georgia College came into the game averaging 80 points a game and led the Peach Belt in 3-point field goal shooting at 42 percent. However, Clayton State's suffocating defensive pressure held the Bobcats 15 points under their scoring average, and only 9-for-33 (27 percent) from 3-point range. However, behind 15 points from junior guard Shaun Keaton, Georgia College held a 30-27 lead at halftime.
 
In the second half, however, Clayton State caught fire. The Lakers opened the second half on a 17-4 run to take a 10-point lead.
 
Bernard Fields twice penetrated and fed forward Brian Kelly with easy lay-ups, and then consecutive 3-point baskets by Tracy Williams and Will Lewis stretched the Laker lead to 40-34 with 14:28 remaining. Michael Sloan then scored a lay-up in transition off a Georgia College turnover to give Clayton State a 44-34 lead with 13:34 remaining.
 
With its perimeter game not effective, Georgia College cut the Laker lead to one point 53-52 with 7:10 remaining. But Clayton State answered as Fields converted a lay-up off two offensive rebounds at the 5:40 mark, and then a big 3-point basket by Williams as the shot clock was winding down pushed the Laker lead back to 10 points, 63-53 with 3:23 remaining.
 
"We were able to do what is really our strength – hold a team that averages 80 points a game and keep them in the high 50s until the final minutes," Gibbons said. "We didn't have a great first half, but we played extremely well in the second by setting the tone in the first part of the second half."
 
Georgia College never cut the lead lower than eight points as Clayton State made 10 free throws down the stretch to seal the victory.
 
Williams was big again for Clayton State with 21 points on 10-for-12 shooting from the free throw line. Kelly recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Sloan scored 13 points and Ricky Garrett added 10 points off the bench for Clayton State. For the game, the Lakers shot 48 percent from the field, 50 percent from 3-point range and 79 percent (22-for-28) from the free throw line.
 
For Georgia College (20-9), Keaton scored 22 points on four 3-point baskets, while senior center Aaron Clark scored 13 points.
  AIKEN, S.C. – Seven was a lucky number this week for the Clayton State Laker men's basketball team at the Peach Belt Conference Tournament.
 
In what will be arguably the best ever Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game, seventh-seeded Clayton State did the impossible on Sunday with an epic 89-87 triple-overtime thriller over top-seeded USC Aiken at the Convocation Center. Clayton State, which improves to 17-14 overall, wins the Peach Belt Conference Tournament for the first time in program history.
 
In addition, the Lakers also earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II National Tournament, their second straight trip to the "Big Dance." Clayton State will officially receive its NCAA bid later tonight.
 
Clayton State became the first ever team to win the Peach Belt Conference Tournament after having to play the first round games and winning the next three. The Lakers also knocked off the second-seeded team (Augusta State), the third-seeded team (Georgia College) and the top-seeded team (USC Aiken) to pull off the championship.
 
Playing before a near-capacity crowd on USC Aiken's home court, the two teams traded leads in the third overtime before Marty Fears tied the game for USC Aiken on a free throw with 29 seconds remaining. The Lakers had the final shot, and senior guard Michael Sloan came through with three seconds remaining, hitting a jump shot from the free throw line to give the Lakers the two point lead.
 
USC Aiken committed a turnover when Job Casimir through the ball away on the inbounds pass, but the Lakers gave the ball right back to the Pacers on an illegal screen against Kelly with 2.7 seconds remaining. Fears' desperation 3-point attempt missed as time expired.
 
Clayton State controlled the game for much of the regulation period, even building a 14-point lead with 7:31 remaining. However, USC Aiken rallied with a 20-6 run down the stretch to force overtime when Clayton State missed two shots at winning in regulation.
 
Clayton State led by as much as four points in the first overtime, but USC Aiken tied it at 80-80 on a 3-point basket by Jeremy Fears with 1:59 remaining. The Pacers had a final shot at the win, but Laker forward Brian Kelly rejected Fears' running shot in the lane as time expired.
 
Neither team made much noise in the second overtime, but Clayton State had the final shot at winning in the end. But Trey Goss' jump shot from the top of the key was off as time expired.
 
Bernard Fields scored 20 points to pace Clayton State as four Lakers scored in double-figures. Will Lewis was tremendous off the bench with 18 points, while Sloan scored 16 points and Tracy Williams added 10 points and six assists. The Lakers played the entire overtime period without Williams, who fouled out with 2:29 remaining in regulation.
 
For USC Aiken (27-3), Kingsley Oguchi scored 24 points on six 3-point baskets, followed by Chris Commons with 21 points. Casimir scored 18 points, and Fears added 15 points.
 
Williams was selected Peach Belt Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player, averaging 16 points in Clayton State's four games. Fields was also selected to the All-Tournament team.
  MORROW, Ga. – They battled in what could be one of the more thrilling and exciting games in all of the Division II this season in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament men's championship. Now, the "Sequel" of the Clayton State-USC Aiken rivalry continues in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional this weekend in Augusta.
 
Eighth-seeded Clayton State (17-14) battles top-seeded USC Aiken (27-3) on Saturday in the opening round of the 2008 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional at Augusta State's Christenberry Fieldhouse. Tip-off is 6 p.m. in the rematch of Sunday's epic Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game, which was won by Clayton State 89-87 in triple-overtime at USC Aiken's Convocation Center.
 
This is the second straight trip to the "Big Dance" for head coach Gordon Gibbons' Lakers. Last season, Clayton State advanced to the second round of the Regional before falling to Virginia Union 71-70 in a buzzer-beater in overtime.
 
In addition to Clayton State and USC Aiken, the rest of the games on Friday in the first round has third-seeded Wingate (23-6) playing sixth-seeded and South Atlantic Conference rival Catawba (19-11) at 12 p.m., followed by host and second-seeded Augusta State (22-6) against seventh-seeded and CIAA Tournament champion Johnson C. Smith (21-9) at 2:30 p.m. The nightcap game features fourth-seeded Virginia Union (22-7) against fifth-seeded Lenoir-Rhyne (22-6) at 8 p.m.
 
Should Clayton State win in the first round, it would play the winner of Virginia Union and Lenoir-Rhyne in the semifinals on Sunday. The South Atlantic Regional championship game is set for Tuesday night at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
  AUGUSTA, Ga. – There was no overtime involved this time, but the "sequel" to the Clayton State-USC Aiken men's basketball rivalry was once again dramatic.
 
Fresh off the epic three-overtime thriller in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game last Sunday, Clayton State and USC Aiken met again on Saturday in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional. This time, eighth-seeded Clayton State made some key defensive stops down the stretch and held on for a thrilling 60-58 victory over sixth-ranked and top-seeded USC Aiken at Augusta State's Christenberry Fieldhouse.
 
The victory improves the Lakers to 18-14 overall, and Clayton State advances to the Region semifinals for the second straight season with a 7:30 p.m. contest on Sunday against Lenoir-Rhyne at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
 
"Our team is built around defense. Our team felt like, without a doubt, they could come in here and come out with a victory," said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. "But the one thing you know about Vince Alexander's teams and about playing USC Aiken, they are not going to quit and they have extremely talented players."
 
Clayton State has excelled with its defense during the current five-game winning streak, and that was the case on Saturday. The Lakers held a potent Pacer club that came in averaging close to 80 points a game 22 points under their average. Clayton State also limited to USC Aiken to only 36 percent shooting from the field and a mere 18 percent (5-for-27) from 3-point range.
 
The Lakers never trailed, twice building a 13-point lead both in the first half and in the second half. In fact, Clayton State held a 50-37 lead on a jump shot by Michael Sloan with seven minutes remaining. However, like last weekend's battle, that's when USC Aiken again made its move.
 
The Pacers slowly whittled at the Laker lead as Cordaryl Ballard scored seven straight points with a 3-point basket and a pair of lay-ups, trimming the Clayton State lead to 56-48 with 3:34 remaining. Point guard Job Casimir then converted a 3-point play with a driving lay-up, followed by a lay-up by Chris Commons and the Laker lead was 56-55 at the 1:23 mark.
 
The Lakers responded as Tracy Williams converted two free throws with 47 seconds remaining, and then added another on an intentional foul on USC Aiken with 19 seconds remaining. However, Ricky Garrett missed two free throws with 13 seconds remaining, and the Pacers capitalized as Jeremy Fears scored on a driving lay-up with eight seconds remaining.
 
Fears then finished the 3-point play with a free throw and Laker lead again was one point 59-58.
 
Garrett was again fouled on the inbounds pass. Garrett made his first free throw, but missed the second, giving USC Aiken one final chance. However, Casimir's off-balanced lay-up attempt hit the side of the backboard as time expired.
 
Clayton State shot 53 percent for the game and out-rebounded USC Aiken 38-28. Williams and Sloan each scored 14 points to pace the Lakers, while Bernard Fields added 10 points.
 
For USC Aiken (27-4), Ballard scored 20 points for the Pacers, while Fears scored 16 points. Commons, however, was held 11 points under his average with 11 points, and Casimir added 10 points.
  AUGUSTA, Ga. – Overtime periods are starting to become normal for the Clayton State Laker men's basketball team. Fortunately, it's working in their favor.
 
First was the thrilling triple-overtime victory over USC Aiken in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship game. Then on Sunday night in the semifinals of the South Atlantic Regional semifinals against Lenoir-Rhyne, the Lakers needed an extra session, but ran away with an 83-69 victory at Augusta State's Christenberry Fieldhouse by not allowing the Bears a point in the overtime period.
 
The victory improves Clayton State to 19-14 overall, and sets up a huge showdown in the South Atlantic Region championship at big-time rival Augusta State on Tuesday night at Christenberry Fieldhouse. This marks the first time ever that Clayton State has advanced to the region championship, or the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
 
Clayton State held an eight-point lead 64-57 with 4:29 remaining on two free throws by Will Lewis. However, Lenoir-Rhyne responded with a 3-point basket by Elliott McDowell, followed by a lay-up by Reggie Bratton with 2:11 remaining to cut the Laker lead to 65-63.
 
After Lenoir-Rhyne trimmed the lead to one point with 39 seconds remaining, Clayton State went back up three points on two more free throws by Lewis with 28 seconds remaining. However, the Bears tied the game with five seconds remaining on a 3-point basket by Josh Kindred, forcing the overtime period.
 
In the extra session, the Lakers held Lenoir-Rhyne scoreless with a 14-0 run. Clayton State opened with four straight free throws by Michael Sloan, followed by a lay-up by Brian Kelly with 2:53 remaining to give Clayton State a 75-69 lead.
 
Lenoir-Rhyne was 0-for-9 from the field in overtime, including 0-for-7 from 3-point range. Clayton State, meanwhile, nailed six free throws in the final two minutes, and a lay-up by Tracy Williams gave the Lakers an 81-69 lead with 53 seconds remaining.
 
Sloan scored 21 points to pace Clayton State, and the senior guard moved into second all-time in scoring at Clayton State now with 1,256 points. Center Jerome Boyd scored 14 points off the bench on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting from the field, while Lewis scored 12 points off the bench. Williams added 10 points for Clayton State, who shot a season-best 58 percent from the field, 53 percent from 3-point range and 82 percent from the free throw line.
 
Defensively, the Lakers limited the Bears to only 21 percent shooting from 3-point range.
 
For Lenoir-Rhyne (23-7), McDowell scored 17 points off the bench, while Josh Rudder scored 14 points and Kindred scored 13 points. The Bears shot 47 percent from the field, including a sizzlin' 74 percent (14-for-19) in the first half.
  AUGUSTA, Ga. – The improbable, but memorable postseason run has ended for the Clayton State Laker men's basketball team.
 
One game away from the NCAA Division II "Elite Eight" in Springfield, Mass., Clayton State could not contain the scoring onslaught of Peach Belt Conference rival Augusta State as the Jaguars knocked off the Lakers 89-72 on Monday at Augusta State's Christenberry Fieldhouse.
 
The defeat ends Clayton State's season at 19-15. However, the Lakers have a lot to hang their hats on for this season. The Lakers came out of nowhere to win the Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship, followed by advancing to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
 
"They are real tough to guard, and when they are making their shots in the second half, it's real difficult," said Clayton State head coach Gordon Gibbons. "We played well enough on offense to win the game. If we score 70 points, we're winning, but we just couldn't stop them."
 
"However, this run is maybe as satisfying or more because of the struggle to get this team to play championship basketball. I am disappointed tonight, but there weren't any tears because they knew they laid it on the line for themselves, their coaching staff, their team and their University."
 
Augusta State hit on all cylinders offensively, especially in the second half. The Jaguars shot a whopping 65-percent from the field, hitting on 17-for-26. For the game, Augusta State shot 55-percent from the field.
 
However, Clayton State overcame an early nine-point Augusta State lead with a 14-2 run to take a 3-point lead with 9:40 remaining. The Lakers then stretched the lead to eight points as Jerome Boyd converted a lay-up at the 6:10 mark. Two free throws by Will Lewis gave Clayton State a 34-27 lead with 4:56 remaining. During that rally, the Lakers hit 12 of 14 shots from the field, including 10 straight at one point.
 
But that's when Augusta State made its move. The Jaguars closed out the half on a 15-3 run as Ben Madgen and Tyrekus Bowman drained back-to-back 3-point baskets to give Augusta State momentum at the break with a 42-37 lead at halftime.
 
The Jaguars broke the game open with a 13-5 run early in the second half. Bowman scored three straight lay-ups during the stretch, and a 3-point basket by Caleb Brown stretched the Augusta State lead to 61-48 with 12:32 remaining.
 
Clayton State cut the lead to single digits only once after that. Meanwhile, Augusta State took its biggest lead of the game 85-67 on two free throws by Demetrius Howard with 1:18 remaining.
 
Bernard Fields paced Clayton State with 18 points on four 3-point baskets, while Tracy Williams scored 14 points with six assists. Will Lewis and Boyd both gave the Lakers strong performances off the bench with 13 and 11 points, respectively. The Lakers shot 48-percent from the field, including 42 percent from 3-point range, and 75 percent from the free throw line.
 
For Augusta State (25-6), Bowman, the two-time Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year, scored a game-high 27 points on 10-for-11 from the free throw line. Madgen, meanwhile, scored 24 points, while guard Daniel Dixon added 10 points off the bench.
 
Schedule of NCAA 20^th Anniversary Countdown Releases
No. 1 (July 11)
No. 2 (July 9)
No. 3 (July 5)
No. 4 (July 2)
No. 5 (June 29)
No. 6 (June 27)
No. 7 Men's Basketball Makes Improbable Run to 2008 NCAA Region Final (June 25)
No. 8 Men's Golf's Wilcox Produces 2008 PBC Championship and NCAA Appearance (June 22)
No. 9 Marti Bartis' Two First-Team Selections Anchor Academic All-America Selections (June 20)
No. 10 Men's Golf Becomes First Clayton State Program to Reach NCAA Championships in 1999 (June 18)
No. 11 Eight Individual PBC Championships in Calendar Year by Cross Country and Track (June 15)
No. 12 Men's Soccer Wins Five PBC Championships in Three Seasons From 2005-07 (June 13)
No. 13 Women's Tennis Claims Rare PBC Championship in 2001 (June 11)
No. 14 Women's Soccer Sweeps PBC Titles and Heads to NCAA's in 2005 (June 8)
No. 15 Women's Basketball Makes First Elite Eight in 2006-07 (June 6)
No. 16 Men's Cross Country Delivers Record Setting 2005 Season (June 4)
No. 17 Women's Basketball Wins No. 1 vs. No. 2 Game vs. Lander on February 10, 2011 (June 1)
No. 18 Men's Basketball Wins First Ever PBC Championship in 2001-02 Regular Season Finale (May 30)
No. 19 Women's Cross Country Wins PBC, Heads to 2012 NCAA National Championships (May 28)
No. 20 Women's Tennis Makes NCAA Tournament in 1999 (May 25)