MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State (6-5, 1-1 PBC) rode nine points from junior guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) in overtime as they took down USC Aiken (6-3, 0-2 PBC) to earn a thrilling 93-89 victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Monday, December 19.
 
Having deadlocked 79-79 at the end of regulation, the Pacers would come out with two quick baskets in the first minute for an 83-79 lead. The Lakers then battled back with back-to-back layups to tie it at 2:52 before a third layup, this one by Powell, gave the Lakers the lead 35 seconds later. Behind four free throws, they would extend to 90-83 advantage.
 
A quick three at the other end by Henry Bolton III cut it to four but the Lakers converted a pair of free throws to push back to a six point lead, 92-86, with 33 seconds left. Christian Nobles would drain a second three for USCA to pull them to within 92-89 13 seconds later. That would be as close as they would get, however, as Powell split a pair of foul shots to reach the final margin of 93-89.
 
Powell led the way with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals while redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) registered his second straight double-double, finishing with 14 points, 10 boards, five assists, two steals and a pair of blocks.
 
They were joined by graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) who notched 14 points and nine caroms and junior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) who had 17 points and four boards. Senior guard Maurice White (Baltimore, Md.) added 11 points and a career-high eight rebounds to round out the top performers.
 
The Pacers jumped out to an early 9-6 lead before Clayton State answered with an 8-0 run, highlighted by a thunderous fastbreak dunk by Davis, to flip the script and pull ahead 14-9 by the 15:11 mark. USCA would respond with a 12-6 burst to retake the lead at 21-20 but it would be brief as the Lakers came right back with five straight to pull back ahead at 25-21.
 
It would be another USC Aiken run, this time 6-0, that continued the run of lead changes at 27-25 with 7:56 remaining. The Lakers would answer right back with a three at the other end to regain the lead but it would be short lived as the Pacers scored five straight for a 33-28 margin by the 5:54 mark. They would then maintain that lead despite Clayton State closing to within one three separate times, including 39-38 at the half.
 
What started as three points late in the first half for the Lakers would grow to be a 14-3 run just under four minutes into the second half, leaving them with a 50-42 lead. They would maintain that eight point margin at 57-49 with 13:40 on the clock before USCA came all the way back with a 17-8 run to take a 66-65 lead 5:37 later.
 
From there the teams would trade buckets, and the lead before the Pacers pulled ahead 70-67 with 6:38 on the clock. Clayton State wasted no time in surging right back to take a 73-70 lead but the Pacers would not go away as they rallied for a 74-73 advantage.
 
The Lakers would come right back to tie the game at 75-75 with 4:08 on the clock before jump starting a series of four alternating buckets before deadlocking at 79-79 three minutes later. Neither team would be able to capitalize on their ensuing possessions, sending the clubs to overtime and setting the stage for a tremendous late game victory.
 
Bolton paced USC Aiken with a game-high 22 points along with eight assists and six rebounds while Jalin Barnes and Nobles had 15 and 13 points, respectively. Nenad Milenkovic added 10 points and Mark Matthews chipped in with nine points and five boards.
 
Clayton State is now off until January 4 when they travel to Lander for their first game of the 2017 portion of the season. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. in Greenwood, South Carolina following the conclusion of the women's game.
 
NOTES
White's previous career-high for rebounds was five at Augusta on January 30, 2016.