Boxscore FLORENCE, S.C. – Huge runs, clutch play late and career best efforts individually fueled Clayton State's (3-11, 1-6 PBC) 82-79 victory at Francis Marion (3-11, 2-5 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, January 18.
 
Senior guard Kyle Kincey (Tallahassee, Fla.) didn't leave the floor as he dropped 20 points and hauled in a career-high 14 boards to go with four steals and three assists while junior forward John Mason (Avon Park, Fla.) joined him with a double-double that featured career-highs of 17 points and 11 rebounds along with three assists.
 
Redshirt-junior center Tionne Williams, Jr. (Phenix City, Ala.) played big with 19 points, six caroms, five assists and three steals and junior guard Byron Abrams (Conyers, Ga.) finished with 14 points behind 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. He also added six rebounds and sophomore forward Ricardo Saams, Jr. (Miramar, Fla.) chipped in with seven points and six caroms.
 
Three lead changes and one tie over the first 8:04 would see the Lakers with a 13-12 lead before Francis Marion erupted for a 19-5 run in a span of 4:29. That burst would feature seven points from Jamal Edmonson and propel them to a 31-18 lead with 7:27 left.
 
Showing that the Patriots were not the only ones that could mount a major charge, Clayton State answered back with a 21-6 surge over the next 5:55 to come all the way back from 13 down to up 39-37. From there, FMU was able to stem the tide and score the final five points of the opening half to take a 42-39 lead into the break.
 
With the score at 47-43 Francis Marion in the opening minutes of the second half, three free throws from Kincey and a dunk by Saams, Jr. put them ahead by one before the Patriots retook the lead on the next possession, 49-48.
 
The clubs would then deadlock three times in the next two-plus minutes, the last at 54-54, before FMU put together an 11-3 run to pull back ahead 65-57 with 10:57 showing on the clock. Over the next three minutes it would be the Lakers turn as they scored nine straight to retake the lead at 66-65.
 
Francis Marion regained the lead with a bucket and a free throw at the 6:22 mark but could not keep it. Beginning at the five minute mark, Clayton State put together another extended run, this time 8-0 behind six straight points from Kincey. That burst took them from down two to up six at 74-68.
 
A layup by Winston Hill and a triple from Alex Cox then cut it to one with 1:54 to play but Kincey would strike again, this time knocking down a jumper to stretch it to a three point margin. With 29 seconds left Mason would be fouled in an effort to extend the game and head to the foul line where he put both home to make it 78-73.
 
Ja'lil Robinson gave the Patriots hope as he drained a triple with 23 seconds on the clock to cut it to two but Clayton State converted at the foul line down the stretch to secure the 82-79 victory.
 
Edmonson led five Francis Marion players in double-figures, finishing with 17 points eight boards and three assists while Hill came away with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists. They were joined by Cox with 12 points, all on threes, and five assists and Keith Matthews and Jaquez Smith each had 12 points and four assists to round out the top performers.
 
The Lakers are right back in action on Monday, January 20 for a special Martin Luther King, Jr. Day matinee at Lander. Game time is set for approximately 3:30 p.m. following the women's contest.