MORROW, Ga. – The Clayton State University men's basketball team welcomed No. 11 Columbus State University to the Loch on Wednesday evening.  The Cougars took control of the game in the second half and defeated the Lakers, 73-60. 
 
The Lakers saw a fastest start from DJ Wright to open the game as he buried a pair of threes and made the score, 10-8.  The Lakers kept shooting the ball well.  With Columbus State up by six at 21-15, the Lakers went on a 7-0 run and took the lead at 22-21.  Yannis Woods, Christian Chambers, and Pitts sparked a nice scoring run for the Lakers which made the score, 32-28. 
 
Mason Pierre buried a three in the closing seconds of the half as the Lakers took a 35-33 lead going into the halftime break.   
 
Halftime: Clayton State 35, #11 Columbus State 33
 
The see-saw battle continued between the two teams continued into the early-going of the second half as the Lakers led, 39-36.  Then, the tide started to turn in the Cougars' favor as they went on a 10-2 run and they re-took the lead at 48-41.  At the score, 55-46, the Cougars kept putting pressure on the Lakers as they went on a 7-1 run and led 62-47.  The Lakers then started to cut into their deficit as they countered with a 9-2 run and made the score, 64-56. 
 
The Cougars closed out the game and defeated the Lakers, 73-60. 
 
QUICK HITS

• Wright led the Lakers with 16 points on 5-for-8 shooting
• Pitts followed with 14 and Woods added 12 from off the bench.
• Yannis also led the team with nine boards. 
• The Lakers outrebounded the Cougars, 33-31.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Lakers (7-16 (1-12 PBC)) travel down to Florida to play Flagler College on Saturday, February 15^th at 3:30 p.m.