Full Game Video I Georgia's Own Postgame Interview
 
MORROW, Ga. – In their final action of 2015, Clayton State (6-3, 1-1 PBC) rebounded from a pair of narrow losses to earn an 81-70 victory over Francis Marion (7-3, 0-2 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, December 19.
 
Senior guard Saiquan Terry (Manchester, Ga.) drained five threes on his way to 24 points while sophomore guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) delivered a solid all-around game of 14 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 29 minutes of action.
 
Sophomore guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) just missed a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds to go along with three assists and senior forward Takija Knight (Crawfordville, Fla.) added 14 points and six boards. Senior center Richard Bell (West Sussex, England) rounded out the top performers with eight caroms and four points.
 
A back-and-forth game from the very beginning, the lead changed hands three times and the clubs deadlocked three times over the first 8:35 before the Lakers took an 18-13 advantage. Maintaining that five point margin after an exchange of buckets, Clayton State used a 6-2 mini run to extend to a 26-17 lead by the 7:47 mark.
 
After more than a minute of scoreless play, the Patriots closed the gap to 26-23 with a 6-0 run of their own but a 9-5 burst from the Lakers made it 35-27 by the 2:34 mark. FMU would then mount a 9-2 run to close the half and head to the break trailing just 37-36.
 
It would remain a nip-and-tuck game at the start of the second half as the Patriots got within 39-38 before a three-point shootout broke out. Six of the next seven baskets would be from beyond the arc as Terry and drained three for the Lakers and Detrek Browning knocked in pair for FMU to leave Clayton State with a 50-47 at the 15:34 mark.
 
With the score at 51-53, Clayton State would get six straight points from Davis to pull out to a 59-53 lead before a 12-5 Francis Marion run flipped the script and put them ahead at 65-64 with 6:29 remaining. A 6-1 stretch then gave the Lakers back the lead at 70-66.
 
The Patriots would get to within two with a pair of free throws by Mike Davis, Jr. but that would be as close as they would get. A pair of free throws by Powell followed by a three and a pair of layups by Knight put the game away as the Lakers closed out the 81-70 victory.
 
Detrek Browning finished with 22 points and three assists to lead FMU while Davis had 17 points and five boards. They were joined by David Jerome with six points and eight rebounds and Alante Fenner with eight points, three assists and three steals.
 
Clayton State has now closed out the 2015 portion of the schedule and will return to action in the New Year when they travel to Young Harris on Saturday, January 2, 2016. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's game.