MORROW, Ga. – Late game heroics gave Clayton State (14-11, 9-7 PBC) a game they had to have to just about control their own destiny for hosting a Peach Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinal as they held off Georgia Southwestern (7-16, 5-11 PBC) by a score of 64-63 in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, February 11.
 
Trailing 64-59 with 19 seconds to play, GSW's Cameron Dozier would drive to the hole for a layup and Devin Watson came away with a steal that produced two Dozier free throws to cut it to 64-63 with just eight seconds to remaining.
 
The Hurricanes fouled immediately on the next possession and benefited from a pair of missed free throws that kept it a one point game. The Hurricanes Tyrone Wooten grabbed the rebound and headed up court, only have his pocket picked at the midcourt stripe by Bennamon to seal the Lakers thrilling 64-63 homecoming victory.
 
Redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) capped an impressive week with 19 points, seven boards, two steals and a pair of blocks while senior guard Maurice White (Baltimore, Md.) finished with 13 points and career-high three blocks. Graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) added 10 points and six caroms and junior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) rounded things out with nine points, two steals and a pair of assists.
 
GSW would take an early 9-6 lead before Clayton State responded with a strong 16-5 run that left them with a 22-14 lead at the 8:54 mark. It would tighten back up from there as the Hurricanes came surging back with a 10-2 run to knot things up at 24-24 less than two minutes later
 
Following a Laker free throw to give them a one point lead, Georgia Southwestern put together another extended run, this time 11-2 to take a 35-27 advantage by the 1:45 mark. A late three would cut the deficit to 35-30 by the break.
 
GSW would maintain that advantage and even push it to a seven point margin at 41-34 by the 17:47 mark. From there, the Lakers would come all the way back as they used an 18-6 run to retake the lead at 52-47 with 9:44 left.
 
It would be the Hurricanes' turn to rebound as they answered with a 6-1 burst that gave them back the lead at 53-52 but it wouldn't stay that way. A three-point play by Davis sparked a 5-0 stretch over the next four minutes that launched Clayton State back into the lead at 57-53 with 3:32 to play.
 
GSW would stay within five points over the next three-plus minutes, ending up at 64-59 with 19 seconds on the clock and setting the stage for the Lakers to snag the one point victory in the final seconds.
 
Wooten was Georgia Southwestern's top performer with 16 points, four boards, three assists and a pair of steals while Dozier finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Watson wrapped things up with a team-high tying 16 points.
 
With the win, Clayton State now controls their own destiny in terms of hosting a Peach Belt Conference Quarterfinal. They currently sit in third in the West Division behind North Georgia, a team that they own the season series against. UNG is 9-6 with four games to play, including against Columbus State and division leading Montevallo while Young Harris, Georgia College and UM round out the Lakers schedule.
 
Clayton State returns to action on Wednesday, February 15 when they host Young Harris in a critical Peach Belt Conference West Division matchup. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's contest.