MORROW, Ga. – Clayton State (10-18, 7-15 PBC) closed out the 2018-19 campaign with a seventh straight victory over rival Columbus State (13-15, 8-14) as they posted an 85-78 decision in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, March 2. The program's five seniors were also recognized directly prior to the game.
 
Senior forward Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) led the Lakers with a double-double of 16 points and 12 rebounds to go with three steals while junior guard Kyle Kincey (Tallahassee, Fla.) finished with 17 points, five caroms and three assists.
 
They were joined by senior guard Justin Tuckson (Stafford, Va.) with seven points, two assists and a career-high nine rebounds and got 12 points from freshman guard Savvon Delgado (Atlanta, Ga.). Redshirt-senior forward JaCarl Owens (Orlando, Fla.) rounded things out with six points, five boards and three assists in 30 minutes of action.
 
The clubs would be nearly inseparable over the first six minutes as Columbus State managed a narrow 11-8 lead. At that point Clayton State would fire up the offense as they hit three triples as part of an 11-0 run that took them from down three to up 19-11 by the 10:24 mark.
 
Undaunted, the Cougars came right back with a 13-2 outburst of their own to retake the lead at 24-21 just over five minutes later. That would be short lived, however, as the Lakers answered with an array of offensive moves to power an 18-3 run that spanned the break and put them up 39-27 just 11 seconds into the second half.
 
Columbus State would get within 10 on four occasions over the next five-plus minutes but after that it would be all Clayton State as they came right back with 10 straight points for a 55-35 spread with 12:24 on the clock. That margin would grow to a game-high 24 at 63-39 two minutes later.
 
Trailing 70-48, the Cougars steadily narrowed the gap to single digits at 82-74 but that would come too late with just 1:02 remaining. They would get as close as the final margin of seven points before the Lakers put the wraps on the 85-78 victory.
 
Jalen Thomas led Columbus State with 21 points, nine assists, three steals and four boards while Landrius Horton finished with 13 points and eight rebounds. DeMarcus McVay added eight points and as many caroms and Bryant Givens had 11 points, three assists and a pair of steals. Cam Paulding chipped in with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
 
The Lakers close out the 2018-19 campaign at 10-18 overall and 7-15 in Peach Belt Conference action.
 
NOTES
With the win, Clayton State has extended their win streak in the series to seven in a row, matching the longest by either team … prior to the game redshirt-senior guard Aubrey McRae (Augusta, Ga.), Owens, Taylor and Tuckson, as well as four-year manager Deriyon Johnson, were recognized on Senior Day … at halftime of the game senior cheerleaders Dacia Daniel and Brittany Pettus were so honored.
 

Columbus State vs. Clayton State (3/2/19)

 

Men's Basketball Senior Day Photo Gallery - March 2, 2019

Cheerleading Senior Day Photo Gallery - March 2, 2019

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