MORROW, Ga. – A massive 22-0 first half run and a sustained second half offensive push was too much to overcome as Clayton State (2-8, 0-3 PBC) fell 98-81 to Augusta (8-3, 3-0 PBC) in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Saturday, January 4.
 
Senior guard Kyle Kincey (Tallahassee, Fla.) led the Lakers with 22 points, including 11-of-12 from the line, while redshirt-sophomore Bryan Hart (Hampton, Va.) and sophomore guard Arusha Hunter (Snellville, Ga.) finished with 16 and 12 points, respectively. Junior guard Byron Abrams (Conyers, Ga.) added 10 points and redshirt-junior center Tionne Williams, Jr. (Phenix City, Ala.) chipped in with seven points and five caroms.
 
After holding a narrow 8-6 lead in the opening minutes Augusta would impose its will over the remainder of the half and much of the game. With the score at 13-12 with 15:12 on the clock, the Jaguars would proceed to go on a 22-0 run behind seven different scorers, none of whom had more than six points.
 
They would take that 35-12 lead and expand it to 52-28 by the half and eventually to a high water mark of 28 points, 62-34, before the Lakers rallied late in the game. Trailing 94-68 with 3:59 left, Clayton State used a 13-2 run, fueled by five points from sophomore guard Brian Sims, Jr. (Trussville, Ala.), to pull to within 96-81 before falling by the 17 point final margin.
 
Rafael Monteiro led the Jaguars with 23 points and 11 rebounds while 7-0 Tyshaun Crawford had four dunks and finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and three assists. Darren Lucas-White came away with nine points, five assists and three steals and Miguel Arnold notched 12 points and four steals. Troy Cracknell rounded things out with 12 points.
 
The Lakers return to the court on Wednesday, January 8 when they head to Young Harris for Peach Belt Conference road action. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. following the women's contest.
 
FULL GAME VIDEO