Box Score COLUMBUS, GA--USC Aiken fell to Clayton College & State University, 79-71, tonight in the opening round of the 2003 Peach Belt Conference Tournament in Columbus, Ga.  The Lakers, the fifth seed from the South Division, improve to 17-11 overall while the Pacers, the North Division's fourth seed, conclude their season with a 5-23 record.  Jamal Johnson was a force inside for Clayton State with a game-high 24 points and 13 rebounds.

The Lakers used a 12-2 run late in the second half to erase a nine-point Pacer advantage.  Jerry Edwards' dunk with 4:10 on the clock capped the run and put Clayton State ahead 60-59.  A three-pointer by Lamar Rodgers two minutes later gave CCSU a two point lead, 65-63.

"I thought we had a chance to win, and that is something that not many people gave us," said USC Aiken Head Coach Mike Roberts. 

Lee Burton's two free throws with 1:00 left in the game tied the score at 65.  The Lakers ran the shot clock down but Kevin Young couldn't convert a three-point attempt.  Clayton State came down with the offensive rebound with 28 seconds left to play.  The Lakers took a time out with just under seven seconds to go to set up the final play but couldn't get a shot off before the horn sounded.

Burton's three pointer 38 seconds into the extra frame put USC Aiken in front 68-65.  After Jason Byrd tied the game for the sixth time, Burton hit a jumper and Jamall Gray added a free throw for another three-point advantage, 71-68, with 2:39 remaining.  The Pacers, however, would not score again and Clayton State connected on five-of-six free throws down the stretch to seal the 79-71 win. 

"They just hit more shots down the stretch and we didn't hit any," USCA senior Eric Dugans said.

Burton finished the game with a team-high 23 points, three assists and two steals.  The Lakers advance to Friday's, 7:00 p.m., quarterfinal game against Columbus State. 

USC Aiken began the second half with a seven point lead on Clayton State.  Burton's trey at the 17:07 mark extended the advantage to 11 points, 45-34.  CCSU chipped away at the Pacer lead.  Johnson's free throw drew the Lakers to within five points, 46-41, with 12:28 to play.

A 7-0 run by Clayton State, after USCA extended the lead back to 10 points, made it a three point game, 51-48, with 9:50 remaining.  Each time CCSU made a run, USC Aiken answered.  This time six straight points put the Pacers ahead by nine with 7:40 to go.  Two free throws by Craig Butts began the 12-2 Clayton State run from which the Pacers never fully recovered. 

CCSU took an early five point lead, 10-5, behind two threes from Rodgers.  USC Aiken took its first lead, 13-12, at the 11:34 mark of the first half.  A 9-0 run by the Pacers in the later stages of the half broke the games fourth tie and put USCA up 30-21 with 4:14 before intermission.  A Laker layup with 1:38 on the clock set the halftime score at 34-27 as neither team scored in the final minute. 

"I thought USC Aiken came in with a good game plan," said Clayton State Head Coach Gordon Gibbons.  "They ran some good stuff early and got it inside to Todd Williams."

For the game, the Lakers hit on 45.8 percent (27-for-59) of their shots from the field while the Pacers connected on 41.8 percent (23-for-25).  Both teams committed just nine turnovers.

"Our team played hard, I thought we shot the ball well enough, but we didn't rebound very well," Roberts said.

Clayton State out-rebounded USC Aiken 42-27. 

Minda Statkus, Williams and Latimer each scored 10 points for the Pacers.  Dugans grabbed a team high seven boards. 

SCORING: 
Clayton College & State (79): Jason Byrd 14, Jamal Johnson 24, Mike Phenizee 5, Lamar Rodgers 12, Kevin Young 4, Jonathan Reed 8, Jerry Edwards 2, Leon Parker 7, Craig Butts 3 

USC Aiken (71):  Lee Burton 23, Minda Statkus 10, Todd Williams 10, Bryant Latimer 10, Eric Dugans 8, Jamall Gray 8, Taurus Watson 2