DAHLONEGA, Ga. – A massive 22-4 second half run was the difference maker as Clayton State (3-14, 1-9 PBC) dropped a 77-63 decision at North Georgia (9-9, 4-6 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, January 25.
Redshirt-sophomore
Bryan Hart (Hampton, Va.) erupted for a career-high 24 points on 4-of-8 shooting from beyond the arc to pace the Lakers while sophomore forward
Ricardo Saams, Jr. (Miramar, Fla.) went 10-of-15 and just missed a double-double with 23 points and nine boards. Junior guard
Byron Abrams (Conyers, Ga.) rounded out the top performers with four points and a game-high tying six assists.
In a highly competitive first half the teams would be separated by no more than four points over the first 10 minutes until Clayton State managed a 22-17 lead with 9:52 on the clock. In that time the teams battled through four ties and five lead changes.
It would continue to be a nip-and-tuck affair as UNG got back within one on a pair of occasions before the Lakers got a little breathing room back at 32-27 by the 3:46 mark. From there, however, it would be all Nighthawks as they closed the opening frame with a 12-3 burst that gave them a 39-35 advantage at the break.
Clayton State would recover from that late surge over the first 6:36 of the second half as Hart drilled three triples on his way to nine points as part of a 16-9 run. That stretch would power the Lakers back ahead to a 51-48 lead.
At that point, however, things would take a decidedly North Georgia turn as they pounded out a dominant 22-4 run that saw them go 8-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-7 beyond the arc.
Doing the damage for the Nighthawks was Zezmon Steeple and KJ Jenkins with eight points apiece to put the game out of reach with a 70-55 lead by the 4:41 mark. From there they would go on to close out the 77-63 victory.
Steeple would lead UNG with 15 points while Ephraim Tshimanga finished with 12 points, six assists, six boards and four steals. Jenkins added 14 points and Lanre Olatunji contributed 10 points and six rebounds. Bailey Minor rounded things out with eight points and seven caroms.
The Lakers return to action when they begin a three game homestand on Wednesday, January 29 as they host Flagler. Game time is set for approximately 7:30 p.m. following the women's contest.
