ATLANTA -- The Clayton State University men's basketball team opened its 2022-23 season in an exhibition game against the Yellow Jackets of Georgia Tech on Monday night. After a strong first half, the Yellow Jackets pulled away from Lakers, 93-63. 
 
The Yellow Jackets started the first half scoring the first eight points as the Lakers did not see a basket until Wes Williams and Kobie Johnson made threes.  The Lakers were within two at 8-6 with 14 minutes left in the half.  Midway through the half, the Yellow Jackets pulled out to 15-6 lead, but the Lakers used a free throw by Brian Coffey II, another three-ball by Williams and a layup by Baqi Lecky and closed the gap to 15-12.  The Lakers kept it close throughout the middle of the half as the Lakers saw shots from by Lecky, Christian Chambers, and Ricardo Saams Jr. which made the score, 27-22, with five minutes left. 
 
In the final five minutes of half, the Yellow Jackets looked like they were running away with the game, but the Lakers hung tough. Chambers, Coffey II, and Travis Harper II all made baskets and the Lakers took the lead, briefly, and made the score, 34-32. 
 
The Yellow Jackets made a layup with two seconds left in the half and tied the game at 34 going into the break.  Chambers led the Lakers with eight points and Williams followed with six.  Georgia Tech outrebounded the Lakers 29-18.  Seven of the eight players dressed for Clayton State scored points in the half. 
 
Halftime: Clayton State 34, Georgia Tech 34
 
Saams Jr. kicked off the scoring 45 seconds into the half as the Lakers led, 36-34.  The Yellow Jackets went on an 8-0 run and made the score, 42-36. The Lakers then knocked down buckets from Coffey II and Saams Jr., but the Yellow Jackets led 48-42 with 14:30 left in the game. From that point, Georgia Tech took over the game as the three-point game was working for them as they led 61-47 with 11:30 left in the game.  At that point, Georgia Tech made three straight three-pointers.  Bryce Weinmunson, Coffey II, and Lecky all marked baskets during that stretch.  At 63-48, the Yellow Jackets scored the next 10 points and pulled ahead by 25 at 73-48 with eight minutes left. 
 
Clayton State could not find an answer for the Yellow Jacket offense, who outscored them 57-29 in the second half, as Georgia Tech defeated the Lakers, 93-63.   
 
GAME VITALS
Final: Georgia Tech 93, Clayton State 63
Location: McCamish Pavilion | Georgia Tech | Atlanta
 
QUICK HITS

• Coffey II led the Lakers with 17 points and Saams Jr. followed with 12 points.
• Saams Jr. led the Lakers with eight boards. 
• The Lakers took a 36-34 early in the second half.
• All Laker players notched a field goal in the game.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers play in the PBC/SAC Challenge on Friday, November 11^th through Saturday, November 12^th.  The Lakers start off with the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial on Friday at 5 p.m. and they end with the Pioneers of Tusculum on Saturday at 4 p.m.
 
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