Tyler Shirley
Kyle Hess
Shirley scored 15 points and added eight assists and three steals
71
Clayton St. CSU 4-7,0-1 Peach Belt
78
Winner North Georgia NG 10-1,1-0 Peach Belt
Clayton St. CSU
4-7,0-1 Peach Belt
71
Final
78
North Georgia NG
10-1,1-0 Peach Belt
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Clayton St. CSU 33 38 71
North Georgia NG 35 43 78

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Sam Viebrock, Assistant AD for Communication, SamuelViebrock@clayton.edu

The Lakers Open PBC Play Falling to #7 North Georgia, 78-71, on Wednesday Evening

DAHLONEGA, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's basketball team fought till the very end, but its upset bid fell short as they fell to the #7 University of North Georgia Nighthawks, 78-71 on Wednesday evening. 
 
Travis Harper II scored seven of the first nine points for the Lakers as they trailed 10-9 early in the first half. Travis started off the scoring with an alley-oop from Tyler Shirley and knocked down a three-pointer.  At the score, 16-14, the Nighthawks went on a mini 8-2 run and led 22-18.  Shirley drained a three and Christian Chambers laid one up and in.  The Lakers led 23-22.  Chambers continued to be the offensive spark for the Lakers.  At the score 28-25, he drilled home a three and tied the game at 28. 
 
Harper II tossed in four of the final five points for the Lakers as they trailed by only two at 35-33 going into the halftime break.  The Lakers shot 48% from the field and 71% from the free throw line in the first half. 
 
Halftime: #7 North Georgia 35, Clayton State 33
 
The Lakers came out of the halftime break and immediately took the lead as TJ Stargell made a pair of free throws and Shirley splashed a three through the net, moving the score to 38-35.  With the Lakers up 44-43, North Georgia went on a 11-0 run and opened a 54-44 lead with 11 minutes left.  That run changed the complexion of the game. Elijah Dates, Shirley, and Brown then combined for the next seven points as the Nighthawk lead was cut to five at 58-53.  The Nighthawks continued to distance themselves from the Lakers and built their lead up to 15 at 69-54 with under four minutes left.  At the score 70-56, Dates and Chambers had back-to-back threes and Shirley nailed a part of jumpers and made the score 73-66. 
 
The Nighthawks made their free throws down the stretch as they held on to down the Lakers, 78-71. 
 
GAME VITALS
Final: #7 North Georgia 78, Clayton State 71
Records: #7 North Georgia: 10-1 (1-0 PBC) | Clayton State: 4-7 (0-1 PBC)
Location: UNG Convocation Center | University of North Georgia | Dahlonega, Ga.
 
QUICK HITS
  • Harper II marked his third 20+ point game of the season as he finished with 20 points. 
  • Shirley and Chambers both finished with 15 points and made a combined 12 field goals.  Chambers finished 6-for-7 from the field.
  • Shirley finished the game dishing out a team-high eight assists while Stargell followed with six helpers.
  • Jamall Clyce and Harper II led the Lakers with six boards.
  • The Lakers went 14-for-17 from the free throw line and shot 40% from the field.
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers host the conference's newest member, USC Beaufort, on Saturday, January 6th at the Loch.  Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m.  Saturday's game is also the Laker Loch-In game and we look forward to seeing all Laker student-athletes in attendance. 

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