NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 56 - Georgia State 101
Records: Lakers (0-0, 0-0 PBC) – Panthers (0-0, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Where: GSU Sports Arena | Atlanta, Ga. 
 
ATLANTA – The Clayton State men's basketball team closed its preseason schedule on Saturday with a 101-56 loss at NCAA Division I Georgia State. 

The Lakers kept it close for most of the first half and led 14-13 with 13:13 left to play in the opening half after a pair of Brian Coffey II free throws. Georgia State would then go on a 7-0 run to take the lead at 20-14. 

Playing out of the Sun Belt Conference, Georgia State has made three-straight conference tournament championship games and has advanced to the NCAA Tournament two of the last three seasons. 

A Kobie Johnson 3-pointer with under 11 minutes left cut the lead to 21-20, but that was the closest Clayton State would get for the remainder of the game. The Panthers would steadily build their lead during the first and led 49-37 at halftime. 

Ricardo Saams Jr. had the team's only double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds while newcomers Jalen Shaw and Brian Coffey II added nine points. 

Clayton State hung tough in the opening minutes of the second half, but an experienced Georgia State team slowly pulled away and led by 26 with 10:30 remaining in the game. 

The Panthers would close the game on a 30-13 run. 

Up Next:
- Clayton State opens the regular season at home on Nov. 12 with No. 17 Lincoln Memorial. Gametime is set for 6:00 p.m. 

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