SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Clayton State University men's basketball team suffered a 112-86 setback at Flagler College on Wednesday evening. 
 
After Flagler marked the first five points of the game, Travis Harper II, Baqi Lecky, and Xavier Joyner all scored points and gave the Lakers the lead at 6-5.  Dudley Blackwell, Kobie Johnson, and Ricardo Saams Jr. then contributed points and made the score 14-12, Clayton State.  Johnson nailed a three during that stretch.  The Saints then shifted the momentum their way and went on a 6-0 run and made the score 18-14.  Blackwell buried a three-ball to end the run. With under 10 minutes left and Flagler leading 28-19, Blackwell and Harper II drained back-to-back three-pointers and closed the gap to three at 28-25. 
 
With 5:34 left in the half, the Saints went on a 10-0 run and jumped out to a 41-30 lead.  With two minutes left, Saams Jr. tossed in a pair of free throws and hit a three which made the score, 41-35.  The Saints scored the final four points of the half and led by 10, 45-35. Saams Jr. and Blackwell led the team with 10 points.    
 
Halftime: Flagler 45, Clayton State 35   
 
The Saints started the second half strong as they marked the first 22 of the first 25 points and made the score, 67-38.  Blackwell tossed in the first Laker field goal of the second half with 15:38 left and cut the deficit to 67-40.  The Lakers then went on a 14-5 run and closed the gap to 74-54.  Saams Jr. tallied seven points during that stretch.  Flagler then kept their foot on the gas and scored 19 of the next 21 points and extended their lead to 93-56.  The Saints drained five threes' during that run. 
 
The Lakers scored the final nine points of the game but the Saints shot 57% from three-point land and 65.9% from the field and took down Clayton State 112-86. 
 
GAME VITALS
Final: Flagler 112, Clayton State 86
Records: Flagler: 10-10 (4-5 PBC) | Clayton State: 2-16 (0-8 PBC)
Location: Flagler Gym | Flagler College | Saint Augustine, Fla.
 
QUICK HITS

• Saams Jr. led the team with 24 points going 9-for-14 from the field and 3-for-3 from behind the arc. 
• Saams Jr. is 28 points ahead from 1,000 career points. 
• Blackwell followed with 20 points and six boards.
• Harper II and Lecky led the Lakers with seven boards.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers welcome nationally ranked Augusta University to the Loch on Saturday, January 28^th.  Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and this game is the annual Laker Loch-In.
 
 
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