JACKSON, Tenn. – In their first game under head coach Jimmy Link, Clayton State (1-0, 0-0 PBC) overcame a slow start to bombard Lane (0-3, 0-0 SIAC) with 10 threes and earn a convincing 80-54 season-opening victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Wednesday, November 18.
 
Sophomore guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) led the way with 10 points and a game-high eight assists while senior guard Saiquan Terry (Manchester, Ga.) nailed three triples on his way to a game-high 16 points, along with four rebounds.
 
He was joined in double-figures by sophomore guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.), who finished with 15 points and four rebounds. Junior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) rounded out the top performers with seven points, a game-high tying seven boards and a block.
 
The Dragons would come out strong and take an early 15-13 lead before Clayton State came surging back. They would notch six of the next nine points to flip the script and take a 19-18 advantage before Lane knotted it at 25-25 with three minutes to play in the half. From there it was all Lakers as they closed the first half with a 9-1 run to take a 34-26 lead into the break.
 
That would only be a precursor to what they had in store for the second half. Over the next 13 minutes, they would drain five threes to fuel a 28-13 run that would extend their lead to an insurmountable 62-39. Including the final three minutes of the first half, that would be an overall run of 37-14. The lead would only continue to grow, eventually reaching 27 points at 76-49 with 1:14 to play before the Lakers wrapped up the 80-54 victory.
 
Malcom McDonald delivered 11 points and seven rebounds in 18 minutes of action to pace Lane while James Caldwell and Devontay Clark had 11 and 10 points, respectively. Rodney Clarke added seven points and six assists and Joseph Cooper added five points and five boards.
 
The Lakers will return to action one week from tonight when they host Carver on Wednesday, November 25. Game time for the home opener is set for 7 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
The victory is the first for head coach Jimmy Link at Clayton State … the game was also the Laker debuts for Nathan Powell, Marquise Clark, Maurice White, Alfonso Davis, Takija Knight and Darrius Moore.