Clayton State men turn up offensive intensity, roll past Coastal Georgia 94-65

Final	1	2	T
Coastal Georgia (3-18)	25	40	65
Clayton St. (13-6)	41	53	94
Morrow, Ga. (Athletics & Fitness Center)

Coastal Georgia	Clayton St.
Pts: Marcus Morrison - 23	Pts: Anthony Salter - 17
Reb: Marcus Morrison - 11	Reb: Andrew Bachanov - 6
Ast: Richard Buford - 8	Ast: 2 Players (#04, #12 - 5)

Team Statistics	Coastal Georgia	Clayton St.
Field Goal %	43.5% (27-62 )	48.7% (38-78 )
Rebounds	39	40
Assists	18	22
Turnovers	22	11
Pts off Turnovers	13	27
2nd Chance Pts	7	20
Pts in the Paint	40	42
Fastbreak Pts	10	11
Bench Pts	12	36

full stats

MORROW, Ga. – February 1, 2012 – The Clayton State Laker men's basketball team turned up the offensive intensity on Wednesday night and rolled to an impressive 94-65 victory over visiting Coastal Georgia at the Athletics and Fitness Center.

The victory was the third straight and fourth in the last five games for Clayton State, which improves to 13-6 overall. Coastal Georgia, a first-year NAIA program, falls to 3-18 overall.

The Lakers had another tremendous offensive output, connecting on better than 45 percent from the field for the fourth time in the last five games. In addition, Clayton State connected on a season-high 13 3-point baskets and scored a season-high 36 points off the bench.

Clayton State jumped out to an early 24-11 lead as Tony Dukes drained a 3-point basket at the 8:28 mark. However, the Mariners cut the lead to six points on a 9-2 run. Junior power forward Marcus Morrison scored seven straight points, including a 3-point play with 6:28 remaining to make the Laker lead 26-20.

But Clayton State finished the half on a 15-5 run. Torrin Greene sank a 3-point basket to initiate the rally, and Dukes finished with another 3-point basket at the 1:13 mark to give the Lakers a 41-25 lead at halftime.

Clayton State opened the second half connecting on its first six field goals to put the game out of reach. Anthony Salter broke out of a first-half shooting slump with three straight 3-point baskets, and Dukes connected from long range again to give the Lakers a commanding 57-29 lead at the 16:25 mark.

Salter connected on four 3-point baskets in the second half, making another at the 11:29 mark to give Clayton State a 66-37 lead. The Lakers' largest lead of the game was 30 points on two occasions. Greene drilled a jumper to give Clayton State a 73-43 lead with 8:37 remaining, and a lay-up by Teondre Williams gave the Lakers an 81-51 lead with 5:23 remaining.

Salter paced a balanced Clayton State scoring attack with 17 points and five assists as four Lakers reached double-figures. Williams scored 15 points, followed by Dukes with 13 points off the bench and 10 points from Greene. Center Andrew Bachanov and forward Juron Dobbs each added eight points, and Dobbs also dished out five assists.

For the game, Clayton State shot 49 percent from the field, including 58 percent from the field in the second half.

Morrison had a tremendous game for Coastal Georgia with a double-double – 23 points and 11 rebounds on a sizzlin' 10-for-11 shooting from the field. Guard Reggie Burke scored 11 points. The Mariners shot a whopping 63 percent from the field in the second half.

Clayton State travels Saturday to Montevallo for a key Peach Belt Conference West Division showdown. Tip-off is set for 4:30 p.m. EST.