NEED TO KNOW:
Score: UNC Pembroke 93 – Clayton State 72
Records: Lakers (0-1, 0-1 PBC) – Braves (1-1, 1-0 PBC)
Series History: Clayton State leads 22-13
 
MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State men's basketball team dropped its season opener on Wednesday afternoon against No. 22 UNC Pembroke, 93-72.
 
Wednesday marked the start of Peach Belt Conference play as all but two games were played on the men's side.
 
UNC Pembroke (1-1, 1-0 PBC) scored the game's first bucket and before Clayton State (0-1, 0-1 PBC) answered with a Jordan Curtis jumper and a Jordan Walker free throw to take a 3-2 lead with 17:46 on the clock.
 
The Braves responded with a 10-0 run and held the lead for the remainder of the game. The Lakers would cut the deficit to four but could never even the score as UNC Pembroke led by 11 at halftime.
 
Newcomers Justin Figueroa and Daniel Melvin led the way for the Lakers with 13 points apiece. Melvin, a junior, added five rebounds while Figueroa, also a junior, had three assists and three steals.
 
The Lakers pulled within six points multiple times in the second half, but the pace and size of the Braves outmatched Clayton State.
 
The Lakers made one final push and pulled within eight with 8:09 left, but UNC Pembroke closed the game on a 21-8 run to take its first win of the season.
 
Senior Christoff Nairn added 11 points while Tyjon Gilmore had 10 points and five rebounds.
 
 
COMING UP:
- Clayton State returns to action on Saturday, January 9 at Lander University. Gametime is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
- On Wednesday, January 13, Clayton State is at Columbus State for a 7:30 p.m. tip.
- The Lakers then return home to face USC Aiken on Saturday, January 16.
 
TURNING POINT:
- UNC Pembroke closed the game with a 21-8 run in the final eight minutes of the game.

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES:
- UNC Pembroke's Spencer Levi turned in a 25-point, 16-rebound performance. 
- Teammate Tyrell Kirk added 24 points. 
 

 
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