PEMBROKE, N.C. – In a battle of the two best teams in the Peach Belt Conference, Clayton State (9-5, 7-3 PBC) went toe-to-toe with UNC Pembroke (14-3, 10-1 PBC) but could not overcome a withering offensive onslaught in the second half as they fell 85-65 in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, January 20.
 
Senior forward Denzel Council (Macon, Ga.) led the way with a double-double of 14 points and 10 boards while redshirt-junior forward JaCarl Owens (Orlando, Fla.) delivered a career-high 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting.
 
Senior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) had a solid all-around game with seven points, five boards and six assists and redshirt-junior guard Aubrey McRae (Augusta, Ga.) knocked down three triples for nine points. Junior guard Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va.) rounded things out with seven points.
 
In a game that lived up to its billing, both teams came out ready to play as neither managed more than a four point lead over the other through the first 16:55. In that time the lead changed hands just twice but saw the clubs deadlocked 12 times.
 
Amid those ties, the Lakers trailed 30-26 with 6:53 left in the half before erupting for a 15-5 run over the next 4:54. That stretch, fueled by a pair of threes from McRae, flipped the script and gave them a 41-35 lead with 1:59 on the clock. Down the stretch, UNCP's Nigel Grant managed the final three of his 26 first half points to send the teams to the break with the score at 41-38.
 
Out of the break, the Lakers nailed a three-pointer to make it a six point lead before the Braves rallied behind a 15-4 run that gave them a 53-48 lead with 14:35 to play. After pushing back to 55-52 less than a minute later, UNCP used an 11-3 burst to extend to a 66-55 margin by the 8:42 mark.
 
A pair of free throws would get it back into single digits at nine but that would prove to be an insurmountable deficit as UNC Pembroke used an 18-6 run to blow the lid off the game at 84-63 with under a minute left. From there they would close out the 85-65 victory.
 
Grant scored only four second half points but led UNCP with a game-high 28 points along with 10 boards while Akia Pruitt finished with 14 points, six rebounds and four blocks. David Strother was active in all facets of the game, coming away with five points, seven caroms, eight assists and three steals and Tyrell Kirk added 14 points. James Murray-Boyles chipped in with 13 points.
 
The Lakers stay on the road as they head to Americus, Georgia to face Georgia Southwestern on Wednesday, January 24. Game time is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. following the women's contest at the Storm Dome.