MORROW, Ga. – An 18-4 run late in the game keyed an improbable Clayton State (3-2, 0-0 PBC) rally as they downed a run-and-gun King (2-4, 1-0 CC) squad in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, November 26.
 
Redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) delivered a strong all-around game with 23 points, seven rebounds, five off of the offensive glass, three assists and a pair of steals. He was joined by graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) with 20 points and six boards in 31 minutes.
 
Junior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) just missed that threshold with 19 points, four caroms and three assists while senior guard Maurice White (Baltimore, Md.) finished with 11 points and three assists.
 
King would take the lead early and hold onto it through the first 9:40 before the Lakers would flip the script with a 9-2 run that gave them a brief 29-28 advantage at the 9:45 mark. A 14-6 run by the Tornado that featured three long range bombs would then return the lead at 42-35 with 5:38 to play in the half.
 
In danger of getting run out of their own gym, Clayton State buckled down and outscored KU 12-3 over the next 4:39 to regain the lead at 47-45. A three by Hunter LeVeau with 28 seconds left would then make it 48-47, a margin the teams would take to the break.
 
The second half would be one that would see the clubs separated by no more than four points through the first 10:06. During that time the teams would deadlock six times and see the lead change hands five times. After the Lakers had regained the lead at 68-67 with 11:05 on the clock, King used a massive 16-4 run to go from one down to leading 83-72 with 7:43 to play.
 
Facing their largest deficit of the day, and a team that had already drained 15 three-pointers, Clayton State staged an 18-4 rally of their own. During that 5:51 stretch, Bennamon drilled a pair of three-pointers while scoring 10 of his team's 18 points to overcome an 11-point margin, capping it with his second three for a 90-87 lead at 1:52.
 
King would not go away as Mack Owens converted a layup inside to cut it to one and they eventually clawed to within two points on a pair of occasions. Following the last, a layup by Jordan Floyd that made it 94-92 with three seconds to play, White was fouled and went to the line. He hit one-of-two for a three point lead and KU proceeded to throw the ball away as Byrd intercepted a deep throw in on the ensuing inbound play to lock up a thrilling 95-92 victory.
 
Headlining the Tornado's long range attack was LeVeau, who finished with a game-high 26 points on 6-of-14 shooting beyond the arc to go with five boards. He was joined by Owens with 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting and a game-best eight rebounds. Je'don Young added 17 points and CJ Good notched six points and game-high six assists.
 
The Lakers are right back in action as they continue a season-high five game homestand as they take on Virginia Union on Monday, November 28. Game time is set for 6 p.m. at The Loch.
 
NOTES
The meeting with King was the first in program history … in their two home games, the Lakers are averaging 104 points … they opened the home slate with a 113-101 victory over LeMoyne-Owen on November 17.