NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Clayton State 64 – North Georgia 70
Records: Lakers (6-6, 1-2 PBC) – Nighthawks (10-4, 3-2 PBC)
All-Time Series: North Georgia Leads 24-21
 
MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State men's basketball team led at halftime but lost 70-64 to North Georgia in Wednesday's Peach Belt Conference home opener.
 
The first half was a close, low scoring battle as Clayton State led 7-6 at the first media timeout. The two teams picked up the scoring and were tied 16-16 with just under 10 minutes left in the half.
 
The Lakers pulled ahead by seven with 3:49 left, but UNG came back and trailed by two at halftime.
 
Ricardo Lynch led the Lakers with 14 points while Jalen Shaw had 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
The second half was much of the same as the it took 1:28 to score the first basket of the half.
 
The Nighthawks used a 6-0 run to take the lead, but a pair of Kobie Johnson free throws and a Jordan Walker layup gave the Lakers the lead right back.
 
After trading the lead again, UNG took it for good at the 11:25 mark and had to hold off the Lakers for the remainder of the game. The Nighthawks pulled ahead by nine with 1:12 left to close out the game.
 
Johnson finished with nine points, four steals and five assists. Austin Hadden scored 10 while Wes Williams and Jordan Walker had seven rebounds apiece.
 
 
Up Next:
Clayton State hits the road on Saturday for a trip to Lander. Tip is slated for 3:30 p.m.
 
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