Murfreesboro, NC---- The Clayton State University Men's Basketball Team kicked off their 2025-2026 season with a tough loss to the Pioneers of Tusculum University with the score of 97-72.

1^st Half: From the start of the game, the Lakers played with aggression getting into the paint and getting good layups. In just the first two minutes, Jeremiah Barze scored the first two points for the Lakers with a good layup responding to the Pioneers layup. The Lakers continued to stay aggressive causing turnovers with steals by JoJo Bell and Joe Thomas then capitalizing off the turnovers with three pointers by Andre Young and Joe Thomas. Jeremiah Barze contributed going 4 for 5 at the free throw line while buckets were made by DJ Wright, Andre Young, Dezmond Perkins, and Marcus Harris to keep it close.

Halftime: Tusculum 33, Clayton State 30

2^nd Half: In the second half, the Lakers continued to keep it close getting into the paint scoring off layups and jumpers but as the half went on the Lakers started to struggle with the baskets falling causing the Pioneers to run away with the score. Although the buckets were not falling, the Lakers never gave up and fought to the end but it was the Pioneers that came away with the win giving the Lakers their first loss of the season.

QUICK HITS

• DJ Wright led the Lakers with 13 points.
• Also in double digits with scoring was Dez'Mond Perkins with 11 points and Joey Thomas with 10 points.
• Jojo Bell led the Lakers in rebounds with 7 rebounds including 5 on the offensive glass.

WHATS NEXT?
The Lakers(0-1) stay in Murfreesboro, NC for a matchup with Lenoir-Rhyne. Tip off is at 2pm.

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