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MORROW, Ga. – In a game that was tied 12 times and saw the lead change hands 14 times, Clayton State (5-2, 0-0 PBC) could not hold on as Lane (5-6, 2-1 SIAC) pulled out a 78-75 victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Tuesday, December 15.
 
Senior guard Saiquan Terry (Manchester, Ga.) knocked down 6-of-8 threes on his way to a team-high 22 points while junior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) added 13 points and senior forward Takija Knight (Crawfordville, Fla.) finished with a near double-double of eight points and eight boards.
 
Sophomore guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) had six points, five assists and four steals and sophomore guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) chipped in with nine points. Senior center Richard Bell (West Sussex, England) added seven points and five rebounds to round out the top performers.
 
Following a deadlock at 8-8 with just under four minutes gone by, the first half would be a game of runs. The Dragons would use a 10-3 stretch to take an 18-11 lead by the 12:57 mark before seeing their offense go ice cold over the next 4:46.
 
During that time frame, Clayton State put together an impressive 17-0 run, fueled by 14 points and four threes from Terry, to take a 28-18 advantage with 6:39 left in the half. The tide would turn quickly as Lane responded with an 11-0 run of their own over the next 4:07, retaking the lead at 30-28 by the 2:15 mark. From there, they would manage a narrow 32-31 lead at the break.
 
The game would continue to be tight in the second half as the clubs tied three times and were separated by no more than five points over the first 6:41 of the frame. With the Lakers leading by three, Terry would drain another triple to push the lead to six at 51-45.
 
That lead would grow to nine at 62-53 with 7:39 left before the Dragons came surging back. Over the next 5:10 they would manage a 17-6 run to pull ahead at 70-68 with 2:29 remaining. Bennamon would give Clayton State back the lead, 71-70, on a three-point play seconds later but Terrance Bridgeman knocked down a jumper to put Lane back ahead, 72-71, at the 1:48 mark.
 
Following technicals on each team that saw both clubs make a pair of free throws, LC maintained their one point advantage until Powell tied the game at 74-74 with 1:18 left. Bridgeman then capitalized on a trip to the line, making both free throws to make it 76-74 with just over a minute remaining.
 
Terry would connect on 1-of-2 shots from the charity stripe to close to within one with 29 seconds left and the defense would force a missed shot to give the Lakers one last chance. On the ensuing possession, Terry drove to the hole but had the ball knocked away. Bell recovered in the corner but had it taken away by Tevyn Roberts who then tossed ahead to Devontay Clark for the game-clinching layup.
 
Terrance Bridgeman, who did not play in the team's previous meeting, finished with a game-high 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting to lead Lane while Kendarius Ash finished with 12 points and nine boards. Joseph Cooper wasn't far behind with 11 points and eight rebounds and Clark added 13 points.
 
The Lakers will be back in action on Thursday, December 17 when they open Peach Belt Conference play against Lander. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at The Loch following the conclusion of the women's game.
 
NOTES
Clayton State defeated Lane 80-54 on November 18 in Jackson, Tenn. … the game marked the final non-conference contest of the regular season for the Lakers.