MORROW, Ga. – With a victory over rival Columbus State in the quarterfinals this past Wednesday, Clayton State (21-5, 19-3 PBC) earned the right to host the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship this weekend for the first time in program history and will face No. 5 seed USC Aiken (16-11, 12-10) in the semifinals.
 
That game is set for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 3 and will be followed by the second semifinal between No. 3 seed Francis Marion (20-8, 14-8) and No. 2 seed UNC Pembroke (24-5, 19-3) at approximately 5:30 p.m. Each team's conference honorees will be recognized directly prior to the tip of their game.
 
The winners of those games will meet in the PBC Championship Game at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 4 with the victor in that game claiming the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament the following weekend.
 
CLAYTON STATE SERIES HISTORY AGAINST THE FIELD
USC Aiken – 19-17
Francis Marion – 19-9
UNC Pembroke – 22-7
 
The Lakers hold the series advantage against the other three teams in this year's semifinal field and picked up at least one win against each this season. The most decisive of those series is a 22-7 spread against UNCP in a series that dates to January 11, 1998 and saw Clayton State earn 12 straight wins from February 17, 2001 through December 1, 2007. It is also a series that has seen them produce an incredible 11-1 mark against the Braves at The Loch.
 
Against FMU, it is a 19-9 margin that dates to November 25, 1994 and includes two different five game win streaks. Most impressively, just like against UNCP, the Lakers have been dominant at home as they have posted an outstanding 12-2 mark, including an 84-70 decision on February 3, 2018.
 
It is a much tighter all-time series, and the most extensive one of the three, when it comes to USC Aiken. Clayton State holds a 19-17 edge but dropped a 91-86 decision at The Loch on January 13 of this year. In 36 meetings, the teams are fairly evenly split in terms of venue, with the Lakers at 9-7 in Morrow and 8-7 on the road in Aiken. They have met five times on a neutral court with the Paces holding a slight 3-2 edge in those situations.
 
Ticket prices for the 2018 PBC Tournament are $10 general admission, $5 for Seniors, Military and Children with ID. A tournament pass that covers admission for all three games on the weekend is also available for $15.

For those not in attendance, coverage of each of the games will be available through both live stats and live video on www.ClaytonStateSports.com. Each of those for the semifinal matchups are below while the full links for the championship game will be available following those contests.
 
SEMIFINALS
No. 5S USC Aiken vs. No. 1S Clayton State – 3:30 p.m.
Live Stats I Live Video
 
No. 3S Francis Marion vs. No. 2S UNC Pembroke – 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats I Live Stats (Alternate) I Live Video
 
CHAMPIONSHIP – 2 p.m.
Live Stats
 
ABOUT CLAYTON STATE MEN'S BASKETBALL
The Lakers enter the semifinals riding a 13-game win streak that is the second longest in program history, trailing only 17 straight by the 2006-07 team. That stretch played a key factor in the program claiming its second straight PBC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the PBC Tournament.
 
Led by All-PBC First-Team performers Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) and Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) and PBC Coach of the Year Jimmy Link, Clayton State is also ranked in the D2SIDA Top-25 Media Poll, tying at No. 25. It is their first appearance in any national poll since January 6, 2009 when they were No. 16.
 
In a ranking that is just as important, the Lakers find themselves No. 3 in the official Southeast Region Poll, a gauge that is used to help determine the eight teams that will qualify for the NCAA Division II Tournament. With that position, they are all but assured to appear in the postseason for the first time since the 2007-08 team did so. It will be only their third all-time appearance in the Big Dance with that 2006-07 squad being the first.
 
The 2018 Southeast Region Tournament will most likely be hosted by No. 1 Lincoln Memorial in Harrogate, Tennessee from March 10-13. The highest ranked team in the region poll, that put in to host, earns the honor of hosting the eight-team field.
 
SCOUTING THE FIELD
Scouting The Clayton State University Lakers
Record: 22-5, 19-3 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 89-83 vs. No. 8S Columbus State on February 28
Streak: 13 Wins
 
Quick Links
Men's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Jaylen Taylor – 13.4 ppg.
Rebounding: Jaylen Taylor – 8.4 rpg.
Assists: Nathan Powell – 4.5 apg.
Steals: Dantez Bennamon, Justin Tuckson – 1.1 spg.
Blocks: Jaylen Taylor  – 0.8 bpg.
Field Goal Percentage: Jaylen Taylor - .538
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Aubrey McRae - .455
Free Throw Percentage: Aubrey McRae – .859
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 82.3
Rebounding: 40.3
Assists: 14.1
Steals: 6.7
Blocks: 2.6
Field Goal Percentage: .458
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .392
Free Throw Percentage: .729
 
Scouting The USC Aiken Pacers 
Record: 16-11, 12-10 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 89-79 at No. 4S Augusta on February 28
Streak: Two Wins
 
Quick Links
Men's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Doniel Dean – 17.2 ppg.
Rebounding: Robert Hill – 8.7 rpg.
Assists: Doniel Dean – 4.4 apg.
Steals: Doniel Dean – 1.6 spg.
Blocks: Robert Hill – 2.9 bpg.
Field Goal Percentage: Doniel Dean, Markus Terry - .467
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Markus Terry - .415
Free Throw Percentage: Doniel Dean – .718
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 82.6
Rebounding: 39.1
Assists: 14.1
Steals: 6.9
Blocks: 5.3
Field Goal Percentage: .461
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .376
Free Throw Percentage: .721
 
Scouting The Francis Marion University Patriots
Record: 20-8, 14-8 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 83-54 vs. No. 6S North Georgia on February 28
Streak: Two Wins
 
Quick Links
Men's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Detrek Browning – 25.0 ppg.
Rebounding: Judah Alexander – 6.4 rpg.
Assists: Ryan Davis – 2.9 apg.
Steals: Detrek Browning – 2.1 spg.
Blocks: Judah Alexander – 1.2 bpg.
Field Goal Percentage: Detrek Browning - .515
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Detrek Browning - .456
Free Throw Percentage: Detrek Browning – .876
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 81.9
Rebounding: 36.6
Assists: 15.4
Steals: 9.6
Blocks: 2.9
Field Goal Percentage: .464
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .362
Free Throw Percentage: .708
 
Scouting The No. 24 UNC Pembroke Braves
Record: 24-5, 19-3 PBC
Last Time Out: W, 70-54 vs. No. 7S Georgia Southwestern on February 28
Streak: Three Wins
 
Quick Links
Men's Basketball Home Page
Schedule
Roster
Statistics
 
Individual Statistical Leaders
Scoring: Nigel Grant – 16.0 ppg.
Rebounding: Nigel Grant, Akia Pruitt – 7.6 rpg.
Assists: David Strother – 3.8 apg.
Steals: Micah Kinsey – 2.3 spg.
Blocks: Akia Pruitt – 2.8 bpg.
Field Goal Percentage: Akia Pruitt - .523
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: Tyrell Kirk - .381
Free Throw Percentage: David Strother – .861
 
Team Statistics
Scoring: 80.6
Rebounding: 42.9
Assists: 15.9
Steals: 8.5
Blocks: 6.8
Field Goal Percentage: .451
Three-Point Field Goal Percentage: .334
Free Throw Percentage: .708