Full Game Video I Georgia's Own Postgame Interview
 
MORROW, Ga. – In an epic battle Clayton State (7-5, 2-3 PBC) was outlasted by Armstrong State (5-7, 2-3 PBC), who came away with a 91-89 overtime victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Wednesday, January 6.
 
Senior guard Saiquan Terry (Manchester, Ga.) dropped 24 points and had five rebounds and three steals in 44 minutes while junior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) finished with 22 points, and nine rebounds. Sophomore guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) added 17 points and eight rebounds and sophomore guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) had seven points and four assists in 18 minutes.
 
The Lakers would open with a 13-6 run over the first 4:46 before ASU answered with a 10-5 stretch to close to within 18-16 by the 11:06 mark. Clayton State came right back with six straight points over the next 2:12 to push to a 24-16 advantage.
 
The lead would continue to yo-yo between a two and five point margin over the next 5:44, winding up at a 32-29 margin with 3:10 to play in the frame.  From there, the Lakers scored six of the next seven points to extend to a 38-30 lead before a foul with two seconds left gave the Pirates an opportunity. In the bonus, they converted the first shot before Shema Sabiiti tipped in the miss on the second to cut it to a 38-33 margin at the break.
 
Clayton State would rebound at the start of the second half as they exploded for an 11-3 stretch that extended the lead to 49-36 by the 15:45 mark. With the score at 59-46 and 11:17 to play, Armstrong erupted for a 15-2 run to tie the game at 61-61 with 7:44 left.
 
The Lakers would answer with an 8-2 rally to pull back ahead 69-63 but ASU bombed in a pair of threes to key a 15-6 run that put them ahead 78-75 with 1:28 on the clock. Powell would then make three of four free throws down the stretch to tie the game at 78-78.
 
At the other end, Clayton State forced a miss and came away with the rebound to earn a chance to win it in regulation. With four seconds left, Terry raced down the floor and jacked up a long three that landed off the mark, sending the clubs to overtime.
 
In the extra session, the teams traded three-pointers to remain deadlocked, this time at 81-81 with 1:18 gone by. Not much would change over the next minute as they each made a single free throw before Davis drove to the hole, made the bucket and got fouled. He would convert the conventional three-point play to give the Lakers an 85-82 advantage with 2:21 to play.
 
From there it would be a back-and-forth game as ASU drained a pair of free throws to cut it to one before Davis put in another layup for a three-point lead, 87-84. Nicholas Scott then answered back with a long game-tying three-pointer at 1:06, which was followed seconds later by a layup from Powell to give the Lakers back the lead, this time at 89-87 with 47 seconds left.
 
In crunch time, the Pirates Shaquiell Mitchell notched a pair of free throws with 33 seconds on the clock to knot the score at 89-89. Once again Powell would have the ball in his hands but had his shot with three seconds left go off the rim.
 
With three seconds remaining, Armstrong not only secured the rebound but was fouled, sending Scott to the line for two shots with minimal time on the clock. He would knock down both to give ASU a two-point advantage. Clayton State then inbounded the ball out to Bennamon at midcourt, whose half court heave came up short and gave the Pirates a narrow two-point victory.
 
Jamison Jeffers delivered an incredible performance with 22 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and four steals to pace Armstrong while Scott finished with 23 points, all in the second half and overtime. Mitchell added 16 points and seven boards and Ethan Mackey had 16 points and five rebounds. Kwei Lartey chipped in with seven boards and four points.
 
The Lakers will now be back in action when they take to the road to face North Georgia on Saturday, January 9. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. in Dahlonega, Georgia following the conclusion of the women's game.