FLORENCE, S.C. – Clayton State (7-6, 2-2 PBC) could not hold off Francis Marion (5-7, 1-3 PBC) in the final minute as they dropped an 82-79 decision in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, January 7.
 
Graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) posted his fourth 20 point game as a Laker, and added nine boards, while junior guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) had 15 points and three assists.

They were joined by redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) with 14 points, six rebounds and four assists and junior guard Kendall Joseph (Snellville, Ga.) with 11 points.
 
Clayton State powered out to an early 12-5 lead through the first 3:24 behind six points from Joseph and would extend that to 23-10 by the 12:38 mark. Over the next 4:55, the Patriots would cut into that lead with an 8-0 run to make it 23-18.
 
It would continue to be a game of runs as the Lakers responded with an 8-2 stretch of their own to make it 31-20 with 3:21 left in the half. The teams would then be rather evenly matched the rest of the way as Clayton State took a 40-28 margin into the break.
 
The Patriots would cut into that lead over the first 4:50 of the second half as they scored 15 of the first 23 points of the second half to narrow it to 48-43. Having weathered that run, the Lakers responded with a 22-13 stretch to extend to a 70-56 advantage by the 9:05 mark.
 
Francis Marion would rally once again, this time with a 14-2 run that sliced the deficit to 72-70 with 5:48 left. From there the teams would stay within four points of each other as Clayton State pushed to that margin three different times before the Patriots tied it up at 78-78 with 1:17 to play. Following a Laker free throw that gave them back the lead, FMU's Kenneth Jackson nailed a jumper that gave them an 80-79 with 25 seconds left.
 
An offensive foul on Clayton State's ensuing possession would give the ball back to the Patriots, who then went to the line and sunk a pair of free throws following a strategic foul. The Lakers would get one more look from deep to tie it but could not connect as Francis Marion held on for the narrow 82-79 victory.
 
Specht led the way for FMU with 19 points while Judah Alexander had 14 points and seven boards. Detrek Browning finished with 17 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals and Jaquez Smith chipped in with 12 points and six assists. Jackson rounded things out with 13 points the fifth Patriot in double-digits.
 
The Lakers return to The Loch to face Augusta in a key Peach Belt Conference showdown on Monday, January 9. Game time is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's contest.