CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Facing one of the teams expected to contend in the Southeast Region, Clayton State (1-1, 0-0 PBC) recovered from a double-digit first half deficit but could not repeat the feat in the second half as Queens (2-0, 0-0 SAC) powered out to an 81-71 victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, November 12.
 
Junior guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) led the way for the Lakers with 14 points, five steals, five rebounds and a pair of assists while redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. Graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) added 10 points and hauled in nine boards and junior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) had 12 points and six boards.
 
Viewed as one of the top teams in the Southeast Region entering the season, the Royals looked like it early on as they surged out to a 13-6 lead after less than four minutes. Over the next four minutes the needle would swing the other direction as the Lakers answered with a 9-3 run that cut the deficit to 16-15 with 12:17 on the clock.
 
Queens would regain their form in short order, however, as Mike Davis exploded for three straight triples to fuel a 14-2 run that expanded their lead to 30-17 by the 8:54 mark. Lesser teams might have not recovered but the Lakers responded by mounting an impressive 22-9 run to completely erase that deficit and head to the half knotted at 39-39. During that comeback a total of eight different players scored for Clayton State.
 
The Lakers would score eight of the first 13 points in the second half for a 47-44 lead but the advantage would be fleeting as the Royals responded with another 14-2 outburst to pull back ahead 58-49 at 11:16. A 5-0 burst would cut it back to four but Queens would keep up the intensity, eventually stretching out to a 77-64 advantage with under three minutes to play. From there they would go on to close out the 10 point victory.
 
Todd Withers led the Royals with 25 points and seven rebounds while Davis had 14 points, eight boards and four blocks. Daniel Camps added 14 points, five rebounds and four steals and Ike Agusi chipped in with 10 points and six assists.
 
The Lakers come off the road for their home opener as they face LeMoyne-Owen on Thursday, November 17. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
The meeting with Queens was the first in program history.