Full Game Video I Georgia's Own Postgame Interview

MORROW, Ga. – Forty minutes was not enough as Clayton State (5-3, 0-1 PBC) and Lander (8-2, 2-0 PBC) battled into overtime before the Bearcats pulled out a narrow 78-77 victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Thursday, December 17.
 
Junior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) poured in 23 points on 8-of-10 shooting from the field and 7-of-10 from the line and grabbed eight boards to pace the Lakers. Sophomore guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) finished with 14 points, seven boards, three assists and four steals and sophomore guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) added 11 points, four rebounds, three assists, a pair of steals and a block.
 
Senior forward Takija Knight (Crawfordville, Fla.) chipped in with 10 points, six caroms and three blocks in 38 minutes of work and senior guard Saiquan Terry (Manchester, Ga.) finished with 12 points to round out the top performers.
 
Over the first 6:08, it would be a nip-and-tuck game as the Lakers managed just a 14-12 lead. Over the next 2:41, however, they would explode for a 12-0 run to take a 26-12 advantage. That lead would eventually grow to 15 points at 29-14 before settling at 33-19 by the 6:02 mark. At that point, the Bearcats used a 13-8 stretch to close to within 41-32 by the half.
 
Clayton State would push that margin to 49-37 at the 15:32 mark of the second half before Lander responded with a 13-2 run over the next 3:10 to cut it to just one point at 51-50. From there they would score nine of the next 13 points to make it an overall run of 21-6 and take a 59-55 lead at 7:52.
 
The Lakers would claw back to within 64-60 by the 5:27 mark but both teams would then go scoreless over the next two minutes for Knight would hit a jumper in the paint to cut it to two.  LU then answered right back with a bucket of their own to get it back to a four point lead.
 
With the score at 67-64 with 2:28 to play, Henry drove to hole and laid it in to cut it to one before Terry drilled a jumper to flip the script and give Clayton State a 68-67 lead at the 1:47 mark. After more than a minute of scoreless play from both clubs, Tobiasz Hose hit a layup to give the Bearcats a one point lead with 22 seconds left.
 
Bennamon and Clayton State responded at the other end as he converted a jumper in the lane and then knocked down a free throw to complete the traditional three-point play, giving the Lakers a 71-69 advantage with nine seconds to play. Lander then responded with a full court dash and Hose drew a foul to earn a trip to the line. He would go on to hit both free throws to tie the game and a long three-point attempt for the Lakers just missed at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
 
In that extra session, Davis notched a tip-in for the lead 30 seconds in and the teams then traded the next four baskets, ending up with Clayton State holding a 77-75 lead with 1:26 left. Tyree King would change that 25 seconds later as he drained the go-ahead three from the right wing to give Lander a 78-77 lead.
 
Clayton State would be unable to convert on a jumper at the other end but forced a turnover with six seconds to play. Racing down court, Bennamon pulled up for a three with two seconds remaining but came up short as the Bearcats held on for the narrow one point victory.
 
Hose led the way for Lander with a game-high tying 23 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added eight boards and a pair of steals while JR Washington finished with 21 points, nine rebounds and three steals in 42 minutes. King added 11 points, six boards and three steals and Matthew McClain had 15 points as the last of four double-digit scorers.
 
The Lakers will be back in action on Saturday, December 19 when they host Francis Marion. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at The Loch following the conclusion of the women's game.