MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State (19-5, 17-3 PBC) was equal to the task as they delivered their 10^th straight win and knocked off No. 18/24 UNC Pembroke (21-5, 17-3 PBC) by an 83-73 score to claim the top spot in the Peach Belt Conference in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, February 17.
 
The win marks the second longest streak in program history, surpassing the 2008-09 team's nine in a row to start that season, and also propels the club into first place in the PBC. The latter is by virtue of a season sweep of third place Francis Marion, a team that UNCP has already lost to once this season. The 10 point margin is also the largest loss of the Pembroke's season, besting a seven point spread against FMU.
 
Senior guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) was once again the driving force behind the Lakers double-digit victory, finishing with 22 points, nine boards and three assists. It was his third game of better than 20 points this season, all within his last seven games.
 
Junior forward Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) just missed a double-double with nine points and as many rebounds while redshirt-junior guard Aubrey McRae (Augusta, Ga.) had 14 points and six caroms. Senior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) added 12 points, five boards and a pair of steals and junior guard Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va.) chipped in with eight points, two steals and two assists.
 
Clayton State took an early 7-2 lead over the first 4:06 before the Braves sliced the deficit to one, 13-12, by the 11:14 mark. Back-to-back buckets by Bennamon and a three by Kincey fueled another 7-2 burst to push to a 20-14 margin less than two minutes later.
 
It would continue to be a back-and-forth affair over the next several minutes as UNCP cut it to one on a pair of occasions before finding themselves at 29-27 with 3:04 left in the half. Powell would then lead an 11-2 rally and cap it with a one-handed slam along the baseline to make it 40-29 at the 18 second mark. Following a jumper at the other end by the Braves, Clayton State took a nine point spread into the break.
 
That margin would fluctuate between six and 11 points over the first 10:27 of the second half before the Lakers extended to a 64-51 lead at 8:01. It was then that UNCP started to percolate as they scored 10 of the next 12 points to pull to within five, 66-61, with 4:20 left in the game. That was as close as they would get.
 
Five points from Tuckson, including a big three to stretch back to a 73-61 difference, ignited a 15-5 run that ran the score up to 81-66 with 51 seconds left and put the game out of reach. From there it was academic as Clayton State put the finishing touches on a convincing, wire-to-wire 83-73 victory.
 
Nigel Grant led the Braves with 21 points while Brandon Watts finished with 17 points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes. James Murray-Boyles rounded out the double-figure scorers and David Strother and Akia Pruitt each had eight points.
 
The Lakers wrap up the home regular season on Wednesday, February 21 when they take on Georgia Southwestern. Game time is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. on what will be Senior Night at The Loch.
 
NOTES
With the win, Clayton State is now an impressive 22-7 all-time against UNCP but a stunning 11-1 at The Loch … the lone time the Braves have come away with a victory was a 78-73 decision on January 19, 2013 … the win marks the second over a ranked opponent this season, joining a 66-59 decision at FMU on January 6.