MORROW, Ga. – A 14 point overtime session and another career night from senior guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) helped Clayton State (15-5, 13-3 PBC) deliver a thrilling 86-80 victory over Georgia College (10-12, 6-10 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Wednesday, February 7.
 
Powell, who has been playing the best ball of his career over the last five games, channeled those efforts as the teams headed to overtime locked at 72-72. He would score the first four of the extra period and junior forward Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) would match that to stake the Lakers to an 80-76 lead with 48 seconds to play.
 
The Bobcats' Thomas Jordan drained a three from the corner to cut it to one just seven seconds later but would not be able to get his team over the hump. A major reason for that was Powell as he produced a driving layup with 11 seconds left for a three point lead, 82-79. Following a Jordan free throw, Clayton State's offensive spark plug would once again deliver in the clutch, sinking all four shots at the line to notch 10 points in the extra session and seal the six point victory.
 
Continuing an incredible stretch, Powell dropped a career-high 27 points with 10 rebounds and six assists in a personal best 43 minutes to lead the Lakers. Highlighting that effort was a perfect 9-of-9 performance at the foul line. He was one of five in double-figures with Taylor finishing with 19 points, seven boards and a pair of steals.
 
Senior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) added 10 points and six caroms and junior guard Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va.) nailed 4-of-8 threes for 13 points. Sophomore guard Kyle Kincey (Tallahassee, Fla.) rounded things out with a solid 10 points.
 
Over the first 5:49 of the game the teams would see the lead change hands seven times before Clayton State took a narrow 12-11 lead. The bucket that gave them the lead would spark an 8-1 run that catapulted them to a 20-12 advantage by the 12:09 mark.
 
With the lead at 29-21 less than five minutes later, the Bobcats found their offense as they used a 10-2 run over the next 3:25 to pull even at 31-31 with 4:17 remaining in the half. Deadlocked at 33-33 seconds later, Kincey delivered four points and helped the Lakers take a narrow 38-36 lead into the break.
 
Following a pair of Bobcat free throws that tied it out of the half, Clayton State retook the lead and eventually pushed out to a 51-44 spread by the 14:14 mark. GC would climb back into the game, using a 9-1 run to flip the script and take a 53-52 lead, however, with 11:21 remaining in regulation.
 
The teams would battle through three lead changes and as many ties and eventually locked horns at 57-57 with 8:27 left. A traditional three-point play by Bennamon then ignited a 7-3 stretch that gave the Lakers back the lead at 64-60 with just under six to play.
 
After closing to within one, 65-54 at the 4:37 mark, Georgia College surrendered seven straight points to Powell to fall behind 72-67 two and a minutes later. A layup by Kohl Roberts and a three from Justin Cave with 23 seconds on the clock then knotted the score at 72-72. Clayton State would get off a shot above the foul line only to see it bounce off the rim and set the stage for overtime.
 
Big man Roberts led GC with 17 points, nine rebounds and a pair of steals while Cave had 16 points, three assists and two steals. Thomas finished with 19 points and five caroms and Chapin Rierson added seven points, three steals and two assists. Isaac Thomas chipped in with seven boards and five points and Brice Booker had seven points.
 
The Lakers will be back in action when they begin a season-high tying three game road trip at Flagler on Saturday, February 10. Game time is set for approximately 3:30 p.m. following the women's contest against the Saints.
 
NOTES
Powell is now averaging 20.0 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists over his last five games … during that stretch he is also shooting better than 82-percent (42-of-51) at the foul line and has broken his career-high for points and rebounds twice each … as a team, Clayton State shot .897 from the foul line, going 26-of-29 … the Lakers remain a game behind UNC Pembroke for first place in the PBC standings by virtue of the Braves 95-81 win at Augusta this evening … the teams play at The Loch on Saturday, February 17 on Homecoming.