MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's basketball team opened play in the Clayton State Classic against Newberry College on Saturday afternoon.  The Lakers fell short in overtime, 87-81. 
 
Kobie Johnson started the game knocking down a three-pointer.  After Newberry scored the next five points, Ricardo Saams Jr. marked the next nine Laker points as they took a 12-6 lead.  With the score of 14-13, Clayton State, the Wolves went on a 9-0 run and made the score 22-14.  The Lakers then responded with a 12-2 run and tied the score at 24.  The teams then went back-and-forth the rest of the quarter as neither team led by as much as four. 
 
Johnson, Jalen Shaw, and Saams Jr. scored points for the Lakers in the final three minutes of the half.  The two teams were tied at 36 going into the break. 
 
Halftime: Clayton State 36, Newberry 36
 
Neither team came out of the break with any momentum as the two teams went blow-for-blow to begin the second half.  Travis Harper II nailed a three while Saams Jr. and Johnson knocked down jumpers in the first four minutes.  The Wolves and Lakers were deadlocked at 45.  With Newberry up, 47-45, Saams Jr. gave the Lakers the lead when he made a three-pointer.  In the middle of the second half, the Wolves led by as much as seven points, but the Lakers cut into that lead when Christian Chambers drained a pair of threes and made the score, 69-65.
 
Shaw and Johnson recorded points for the Lakers in the final minute of the second half, but the two teams found themselves tied at 72 at the final buzzer forcing an overtime period. 
 
End of the second half: Clayton State 72, Newberry 72
 
In the overtime period, the Wolves surrendered only one field goal as they defeated the Lakers, 87-81.
 
GAME VITALS
Final/OT: Newberry 87, Clayton State 81
Records: Newberry: 2-2 | Clayton State: 0-4
Location: The Loch | Clayton State University | Morrow, Ga.
 
QUICK HITS

• Saams Jr. led the Lakers with 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds
• Shaw, who made his season debut, notched a double-double with 12 points and 16 boards.
• Johnson and Chambers added 17 and 14 points, respectively. 
• The Lakers shot 50% from the floor.
• The Lakers forced 11 turnovers.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers conclude the Clayton State Classic as they host the Lions of Emmanuel College at 3 p.m. on Sunday, November 20^th at the Loch. 
 
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