MORROW, Ga. – Coming off a win in Columbus, Georgia this past weekend that clinched a second straight Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship, No. 1 seed Clayton State (21-5, 19-3 PBC) hosts that very same Columbus State (9-16, 9-13 PBC) team, now a No. 8 seed, in the first round of the 2018 PBC Tournament on Wednesday, February 28. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. at The Loch.
 
The Lakers trail the all-time series 30-16 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 of this year and an 84-67 decision this past Saturday, Clayton State has now won four in a row in the series.
 
Ticket prices for this PBC Quarterfinal will be $8 general admission, $5 for Seniors, Military and Youth (13-17) with ID and $3 for children 12-and-under.

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

Championship History
Clayton State has won five regular season championships with three of those being during Peach Belt Conference membership. They claimed those during the 2001-02 and 2016-17 campaigns before notching the repeat with this year's title. They 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, 5 Reg. Season)
2017-18 Peach Belt Conference West Division (21-5, 19-3 PBC)
2016-17 Peach Belt Conference West Division (16-13, 11-8 PBC)
*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 GAC)
1993-94 Georgia Athletic Conference Regular Season (25-7, 14-2 GAC)

Scouting The Clayton State University Lakers
Record: 21-5, 19-3 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 84-67 at Columbus State on February 24
Streak: 12 Wins
 
Quick Links
Men's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Jaylen Taylor – 13.6 ppg.
Rebounding: Jaylen Taylor – 8.5 rpg.
Assists: Nathan Powell – 4.5 apg.
Steals: Dantez Bennamon, Justin Tuckson – 1.2 spg.
Blocks: Jaylen Taylor  – 0.8 bpg.
Field Goal Percentage: Jaylen Taylor - .537
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Aubrey McRae - .457
Free Throw Percentage: Aubrey McRae – .859
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 82.0
Rebounding: 40.5
Assists: 14.2
Steals: 6.8
Blocks: 2.7
Field Goal Percentage: .457
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .394
Free Throw Percentage: .734
 
Scouting The Columbus State University Cougars
Record: 9-16, 9-13 PBC
Last Time Out: L, 84-67 vs. Clayton State on February 24
Streak: One Loss
 
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: Marcus Dixon, Michael Graham, Cam Paulding – 0.4
Field Goal Percentage: JaCori Payne - .491
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: JaCori Payne - .395
Free Throw Percentage: Rudy Winters - .730
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 75.8
Rebounding: 34.3
Assists: 10.6
Steals: 7.1
Blocks: 1.9
Field Goal Percentage: .435
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .337
Free Throw Percentage: .669