MORROW, Ga. – A win and you are champions and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Peach Belt Conference Tournament. It is as simple as that for Clayton State (20-5, 18-3 PBC) as they head to rival Columbus State (9-15, 9-12 PBC) on Saturday, February 24. Game time is set for approximately 3:30 p.m. following the women's game.
 
Should the Lakers finish tied with UNC Pembroke they will earn a share of the PBC Regular Season Championship for a second consecutive year and claim the No. 1 seed. The latter comes with the opportunity to host the league's semifinals and championship provided you win your quarterfinal game. A win and a UNCP loss will give them the title outright.
 
The Lakers trail the all-time series 30-15 dating back to the first meeting on February 17, 1996. Columbus State won the first five meetings through February 23, 1998 before Clayton State won four in a row through February 9, 2000. The Cougars won a series high seven straight and 10 of the last 14 since February 16, 2011.
 
Last season the Lakers put a major dent in that stretch with their first season sweep of the Cougars since the 1999-2000 season. They accomplished that with an 86-79 win on January 21, 2017 in Morrow and an impressive 100-70 victory in Columbus on February 8, 2017. The latter was their first road victory since January 17, 2007. With a 95-76 win at The Loch on January 27, 2018, Clayton State has now won three in a row in the series.

Coverage of the game will be available on live stats and live video on www.ClaytonStateSports.com.

Championship History
Clayton State has won four regular season championships with two of those being during Peach Belt Conference membership. They claimed those during the 2001-02 and 2016-17 campaigns and collected their only PBC Tournament title in 2007-08. Their only other regular season titles came during the NAIA years as they earned back-to-back Georgia Athletic Conference championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
 
Conference Postseason History (1 Tournament, 4 Reg. Season)
2016-17 Peach Belt Conference West Division (16-13, 11-8)
*2008 Peach Belt Conference Tournament (19-15, 9-11 PBC)
2001-02 Peach Belt Conference Regular Season (19-9, 15-4 PBC)
1994-95 Georgia Athletic Conference Regular Season (21-13, 12-4 PBC)
1993-94 Georgia Athletic Conference Regular Season (25-7, 14-2 PBC)

Scouting The Clayton State University Lakers
Record: 20-5, 18-3 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 63-61 vs Georgia Southwestern on February 21
Streak: 11 Wins
 
Quick Links
Men's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Jaylen Taylor – 13.3 ppg.
Rebounding: Jaylen Taylor – 8.5 rpg.
Assists: Nathan Powell – 4.7 apg.
Steals: Justin Tuckson – 1.2 spg.
Blocks: Jaylen Taylor  – 0.9 bpg.
Field Goal Percentage: Jaylen Taylor - .527
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Aubrey McRae - .463
Free Throw Percentage: Nathan Powell – .688
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 82.8
Rebounding: 40.8
Assists: 14.6
Steals: 6.6
Blocks: 2.8
Field Goal Percentage: .454
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .402
Free Throw Percentage: .736
 
Scouting The Columbus State University Cougars
Record: 9-15, 9-12 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 90-87 at Flagler on February 21
Streak: Three Wins
 
Quick Links
Men's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
2017-18 Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: JaCori Payne – 18.0
Rebounding: Marcus Dixon – 10.2
Assists: JaCori Payne – 3.3
Steals: JaCori Payne – 1.6
Blocks: Michael Graham – 0.5
Field Goal Percentage: JaCori Payne - .495
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: JaCori Payne - .398
Free Throw Percentage: Rudy Winters - .730
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 76.2
Rebounding: 34.4
Assists: 10.6
Steals: 7.1
Blocks: 1.9
Field Goal Percentage: .436
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .337
Free Throw Percentage: .673