NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 89 – Clark Atlanta 94
Records: Lakers (1-3, 0-0 PBC) – Panthers (2-2, 0-0 SAC)
All-Time Series: Clark Atlanta Leads 4-2
 
MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State men's basketball team led early and often but fell 94-89 to Clark Atlanta in the first day of the Clayton State Classic.

A 3-pointer by Ricardo Lynch and a layup by Ricardo Saams Jr. just 1:08 into the game gave the Lakers an early 5-0 lead.
 
The two teams battled throughout the first half, but the Lakers held a single-digit lead until the 5:18 mark when a pair of free throws by Saams Jr. put Clayton State ahead by 10.
 
With under a minute left in the opening half, Brian Coffey II scored four points while Saams Jr. hit a jumper with just a second left to give Clayton State a 13-point lead at halftime.
 
Saams Jr. led all players with a career-high 31 points and added four rebounds and two assists.
 
The second half was a different story for the Lakers, however. Clark Atlanta used a 26-11 run to take the lead with just 11 minutes left to play. The two teams then traded the lead over the next few possessions, but the Panthers took the lead for good with 4:56 remaining.
 
The Lakers kept the deficit under five points for the remainder of the game.
 
Kobie Johnson added 15 points, six assists and four rebounds while Coffey II and Jalen Shaw each had 12 points. Shaw also brought down 10 rebounds and had three assists and two blocks.
 
Up Next:
- The Lakers are back at it on Saturday with a 4 p.m. matchup against Tuskegee.  


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