NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Georgia Southwestern 73 -- Clayton State 57
Records: Lakers (0-5, 0-5 PBC) – Hurricanes (6-1, 4-1 PBC)
Series History: Ga. Southwestern leads 24-20
 
MORROW, Ga. – Junior Daniel Melvin had a career-high in points and rebounds, but the Clayton State men's basketball team struggled to find offense in the second half and lost 73-57 Wednesday night at the Loch in a Peach Belt Conference matchup.
 
Georgia Southwestern (6-1, 4-1 PBC) jumped out to a 5-2 lead and held the lead for the remainder of the game.
 
The Lakers (0-5, 0-5 PBC) kept the score close throughout the first half and closed the half with a near half-court buzzer-beater from Jordan Curtis to trail 32-31 at halftime.
 
It took 2:36 before either team made a basket in the second half. A pair of Hurricane free throws started an 8-0 run for Ga. Southwestern as they extended their lead to 14 at the 12:19 mark.
 
The Hurricanes would go on to build on that lead and led by 22 with just over three minutes to play.
 
Curtis hit another buzzer-beater, but this time it was right under the basketball as the game ended.
 
Melvin scored 18 points and had nine rebounds, three assists and two steals. Ricardo Saams Jr. tallied 12 points and pulled down a career-high 13 rebounds.  


COMING UP:
- Clayton State travels to Augusta University on Saturday, January 23 and Young Harris on January 27.
- The Lakers return home on January 30 for a matchup with Flagler College.

TURNING POINT:
- The Hurricanes steadily built a lead in the second half and led by as many as 22.

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