Clayton State to host Columbus in Peach Belt basketball action tonight
Morrow, GA – The Clayton State women’s and men’s basketball teams will open their Peach Belt Conference home schedules tonight, facing off against in-state rival Columbus State University.
The 4th-ranked Laker women will tipoff at 5:30 p.m., followed by men’s contest at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and children 10-under are free. Clayton State faculty, staff and students are admitted free along with a guest with their Laker ID.
The Clayton State women are coming off an impressive 73-51 Peach Belt road win over Georgia Southwestern on Saturday. The Lakers had a balanced scoring attack in the win with five players scoring in double-digits. Drameka Griggs led the way with 16 points, followed by Shacamra Jackson with 15. Kayla Pryce added 12 points, followed by Arkia Armstrong and Shannon Smith chipping in 10 points. Smith also grabbed 10 rebounds to post a “double-double” in her first game of the year.
Columbus State enters today’s game with a 3-4 record and is coming off a 77-65 loss at Montevallo on Saturday. Marina DeFoor led the Cougars with 14 points, followed by Shan Basley with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Tonight will be the 40th meeting in the series between Columbus State and Clayton State, and the Cougars hold a 21-18 advantage in the series. Clayton State won the last game between the two teams 82-70 last season.
On the men’s side, the Lakers are coming off a 70-54 loss to Georgia Southwestern in their PBC opener on Saturday. After leading late in the first half, a slow stretch to close the period and open the second half cost the Lakers. Charles Shedrick led the scoring attack with 15 points in the loss, followed by a season high 12 points from Tim Budd. Tony Dukes chipped in nine points.
Columbus State enters today’s game with a 4-3 record and is coming off an 81-71 loss at Montevallo on Saturday. Rory Miller scored a team-leading 17 points off the bench, while Dimitri Davis chipped in 13 points for the club. Winford Ivey had nine points and nine assists.
The game will be the 35th meeting in the series between Columbus State and Clayton State, and the Cougars hold a 23-11 lead in the series. Clayton State lost 80-68 in the last meeting last season between the two teams at the Athletics & Fitness Center.
Game Notes – Clayton Sate women vs. Columbus State women
With a 6-0 start to the season, the Lakers currently have a 72-5 (.935) record over the last three seasons, which is the best in NCAA Division II basketball ... As a team, the Lakers currently rank third in the country in scoring defense, fourth in turnover margin, sixth in blocked shots, ninth in steals and 12th in field goal percentage. Individually, Griggs ranks fourth in steals, 19th in scoring, and 21st in field goal percentage, while Jackson is eighth in blocked shots ... Clayton State is delighted to have Dr. Donna McCarty as an honorary coach tonight for the women’s basketball team. Dr. McCarty is the department chair of the University’s psychology program ... The Lakers will take a short break before returning to action on Dec. 29 and 30th, hosting the Heritage Bank Holiday Classic.
Columbus State currently ranks first in the Peach Belt Conference in 3-point field goal percentage and second in 3-point field goals made. DeFoor is hitting a sizzling 58 percent from behind the arc to lead the conference ... Asha Alexander ranks second in the PBC at 8.3 rebounds per contest ... This season the Cougars have defeated Shorter and beat Albany State twice, while falling to Carson-Newman, Fort Valley, West Georgia and Montevallo.
Game Notes – Clayton Sate men vs. Columbus State men
Through the first eight games this season, Omari Murray, who ranks second in the PBC in rebounding, is averaging a “double-double” in points and rebounds ... The Lakers currently rank first in the Peach Belt in points per game allowed (60.0) and opponents’ field goal percentage (38.1). The Lakers also rank fourth in steals (9.8) and blocks (4.5) per contest ... Clayton State is happy to have Dr. Alphonso Ogbuehi as an honorary coach tonight for the men’s basketball team. Dr. Ogbuehi is a professor in the University’s College of Business ... After tonight’s game, the Lakers will take off for the holidays and will return to action on Thurs., Jan. 3rd, hosting Armstrong in PBC play
Columbus State ranks fourth in points allowed in the Peach Belt, third in opponents’ 3-point percentage, fifth in 3-pointers attempted and third in turnovers per game ... This season the Cougars have defeated Brevard, Fort Valley, Tusculum and Voorhees, while falling to Carson--Newman, West Georgia and Montevallo. One common opponent so far this season is Carver, as Columbus defeated them 100-72 in an exhibition game.
