NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 81 – Valdosta State 75
Records: Lakers (5-3, 0-0 PBC) – Blazers (4-4, 0-1GSC)
All-Time Series: VSU leads 9-4
 
MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State men's basketball team pushed its win streak to four games after taking down Valdosta State 81-75 inside The Loch Tuesday night.
 
The win evened the season series between the two schools as Valdosta State won 92-79 on November 16.
 
The Blazers jumped out to a 10-7 lead at the 15:49 mark before Clayton State used a 10-0 run to take a lead it would not give up for the remainder of the game. The lead would stay under double digits until an Austin Hadden 3-pointer made it an 11-point ballgame.
 
Four more points extended the lead to 15, but Valdosta State hung around and only trailed by nine at halftime.
 
Jalen Shaw scored a team-high 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. He added two assists and two blocks.
 
Ricardo Saams Jr. chipped in with 15 points and eight rebounds.
 
The strength of the Lakers was found at the free throw line. As a team, they shot 24-of-30 from the charity stripe.
 
The second half continued to be a battle as the deficit hovered around 10 points.
 
A Wes Williams layup with just over nine minutes to play made it a 15-point score, but the Blazers quickly undid that and pulled within two with 4:43 left in the game. With 3:07 left to play, the Lakers led by just one, but a Ricardo Lynch 3-pointer made it a four-point game.
 
The two teams traded baskets, but time ran out as VSU resorted to fouling in the final seconds to have a chance. The Lakers hit all four free throws to take their second win in The Loch.
 
Lynch scored 13 points and had four rebounds and a team-high three assists.
 
Kobie Johnson scored 11 and had five rebounds. Williams came down with six boards.

Up Next:
- The Lakers are on the road on Wednesday, Dec. 15, for a matchup at Florida Southern. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.    


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