Clayton State, West Georgia renew in-state men’s basketball rivalry

MORROW, Ga. – November 21, 2011 – After a two-year hiatus, one of the top Division II men's basketball rivalries in Georgia will be renewed Tuesday night when the Clayton State Lakers play host to the West Georgia Wolves.

This marks the first time Clayton State and West Georgia have squared off since the 2008-09 season.  West Georgia leads the overall series at 19-10 which began during the 1993-94 season.  However, Clayton State has won three straight in the series and five of the last six meetings.

Both teams enter Tuesday night's contest undefeated. Clayton State is 2-0 after winning a 62-57 triumph at Limestone last Wednesday.  West Georgia is 4-0 following Saturday's 78-68 victory over visiting Columbus State.

This year's Laker squad is almost a new team for head coach Gordon Gibbons.  He has welcomed 11 newcomers into the Clayton State fold this season and those newcomers are producing.

Senior wing Teondre Williams, a transfer from the University of Oregon, leads the Lakers in scoring at 21 points a game while shooting 50 percent from the field.  In the post, junior center Andrew Bachanov is averaging 11 points and seven rebounds per game while hitting 56 percent from the field.

The Lakers have also received solid production on the perimeter from junior wing Reco Lewis (9 ppg), and senior guards Bradley Tumer (9 ppg) and Anthony Salter (8 ppg).

West Georgia's fifth-year head coach Michael Cooney has a solid one-two combination in seniors Da'Ron Sims and Gavin Field.  The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Sims leads the Wolves in scoring at 18 points and seven rebounds a game while making 77 percent of his attempts from the free throw line.  Field, at 6-7, is averaging 16 points and is shooting 48 percent from 3-point range. 

Junior guard Ryan Godfrey averages 10 points a game for West Georgia and is 71 percent from the free throw line.

Tuesday's tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Athletics and Fitness Center.  The contest will be carried on-line via Clayton State's athletics web site at http://athletics.clayton.edu/ or via Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/claytonstateathletics.