MORROW, Ga. – Clutch plays by the two players who were honored on Senior Night anchored one of Clayton State's (20-5, 18-3 PBC) gutsiest performances of the season as it came down to the final seconds in a nail biting 63-61 victory over Georgia Southwestern (12-13, 8-13 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Wednesday, February 21.
 
Senior guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) led all scorers with 21 points and some huge buckets while senior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) finished with 10 points but erupted for a career-high seven steals. The latter was just two shy of tying the program record set in 2012 by Omari Murray.
 
Junior forward Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) came away with 16 points, eight boards and a pair of steals and sophomore guard Kyle Kincey (Tallahassee, Fla.) added seven points. Most of Kincey's scoring came in one late burst in the second half that was key to regaining the lead.
 
After staying within five points of each other over the first 13:43 of the game, Clayton State finally managed to push out to a 19-12 margin before GSW sliced it back to three, 21-18, with 3:23 left in the half. A 6-2 mini run then stretched the lead to seven before the Lakers settled for a 28-23 halftime lead.
 
It would continue to be a nip-and-tuck affair over the first six-plus minutes as the clubs were separated by no more than five points, and that very early on. The Hurricanes would finally retake the lead, albeit briefly at 38-36 with 13:37 on the clock, before an 8-0 run flipped the script and gave Clayton State back the lead at 44-38 by the 11:17 mark.
 
GSW battled back once again, this time taking a 53-52 lead on a Devin Watson triple with 7:10 remaining. That lead was quickly erased as Kincey lead his own 5-0 run to make it 57-53 with just under five to play. The teams then traded buckets before Georgia Southwestern's Dajion Macklien and John Mason dropped back-to-back threes for a 61-59 lead with a minute and a half to play.
 
From there, Powell took matters into his own hands. With 1:05 on the clock he drove to the hole and dropped in a layup to knot it at 61-61 and then got some help at the other end from fellow senior Dantez Bennamon, who elevated for a huge defensive rebound.
 
On the offensive end the Lakers ran the clock down from 15 seconds before Powell once again charged into the lane, this time pulling up from three feet out and sinking the go-ahead basket with four seconds left.
 
A quick timeout by Clayton State ensured that the Hurricanes would not get the quick inbound. Still left with going the length of the court, Bennamon tipped the inbounds and GSW's ensuing half court heave fell short to give the Lakers their 11^th consecutive victory.
 
Macklien led the Hurricanes with 15 points, five assists and five rebounds while Watson had 13 points and three assists. They were joined by Mason with 11 points and Hasaan Buggs with seven points and seven boards. Andre Statam rounded things out with six caroms.
 
The Lakers head to rival Columbus State on Saturday, February 24 as they close out the regular season with an opportunity to claim at least a share of the Peach Belt Conference title. Game time is set for approximately 3:30 p.m. in Columbus, Georgia.
 
NOTES
Clayton State can claim the No. 1 seed, and the opportunity to host the PBC Semifinals and Finals, as well as at least a share of the regular season crown with a win or a UNC Pembroke loss … a win combined with a UNCP defeat would give the title outright.