DAHLONEGA, Ga. – After building a 15 point halftime lead, Clayton State (9-8, 4-4 PBC) survived a second half rally from North Georgia (9-8, 5-3 PBC) to earn an 80-71 victory in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Wednesday, January 18.
 
Graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) hauled in a career-high 14 rebounds along with 15 points for his fourth double-double of the season to pace the Lakers. He was joined by redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) who finished with 20 points and seven boards and senior guard Maurice White (Baltimore, Md.) with a career-best 19 points and six steals. Junior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) rounded out the top performances with 10 points.
 
Clayton State would come out of the gate strong, using a 7-0 run to power out to a 7-2 advantage before UNG clawed to within 13-10 just over five minutes in. Holding a 21-20 lead at the 10:17 mark, the Lakers would take control of the game as they rattled off a 19-3 run over the next 5:46 to stretch to a commanding 40-23 margin.
 
White would fuel that run with nine of his 11 first half points and Byrd finished the frame with a double-double of 11 points and 12 boards. Those performances helped Clayton State roll into the half with a 46-31 lead just over four minutes later.
 
A quick three-pointer to open the second half extended to an 18 point margin before North Georgia found their offensive rhythm. Over a span of 6:24 they would mount a 21-8 run. That stretch got them back in the ballgame at 57-52 with 12:30 left in the half.
 
The teams would then be evenly matched over the next three-plus minutes as the Lakers would maintain a 67-58 lead before a 7-1 burst cut it to a three point margin. Bennamon then answered right back at the other end with a triple of his own to not only restore the lead but key a 5-0 mini run to make it 73-65.
 
The Nighthawks would get to within five points down the stretch but that would be as close as they would come. Over the final 2:08 Clayton State hit 5-of-6 from the foul line to put the finishing touches on a hard fought 80-71 victory.
 
Denzell Hosch paced North Georgia with a game-high 23 points and four assists and Shaquan Cantrell added 16 points. Ross Morkem rounded things out with 12 points and five boards.
 
The Lakers return to action against rival Columbus State on Saturday, January 21. Game time is set for 3:30 p.m. at The Loch following the conclusion of the women's game.
 
NOTES
With the victory, Clayton State has won eight of the last nine meetings against UNG.