Lakers drown Hurricanes with hot three-point shooting

Published 4:52 pm Thursday, January 31, 2019

From Staff Reports

 

MORROW, GA – The Georgia Southwestern State University men’s basketball team lost their 11th-straight game by the score of 98-75 to the Clayton State University Lakers on Wednesday, January 30, at Clayton State (CSU).

GSW is now 2-15 overall and is still winless in the Peach Belt Conference at 0-12.

The Lakers connected on 14 of 21 three-point attempts (66.7 percent) and never trailed in the game. The Lakers were actually more accurate from beyond the arc than they were on the inside. With the win, the Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak to improve to 6-12 overall and 3-9 in the PBC.

CSU jumped out to a 7-0 lead to start the game. However, the Hurricanes showed character and heart by battling back with a 12-7 run of their own to tie the game at 12-12 with 14:33 left in the half. Unfortunately for the Hurricanes, they were held scoreless by the Lakers for the following three minutes. During that time, CSU scored six consecutive points and never looked back. By halftime, the Hurricanes trailed 46-34.

In the second half, it was all Lakers. They led by as many as 28 points on two occasions during the second half. The Lakers had their best shooting night of the season against GSW. The Hurricanes shot 40.6 percent from the field. This is the eighth game in their 11-game losing streak that the Hurricanes have allowed an opponent to shoot over 50 percent against them.

In contrast, the Hurricanes have not shot over 50 percent since the opening game of the season: an 80-72 loss at Barton College (NC) on Friday, November 9.

The Hurricanes weren’t able to match the Lakers from long range, but it was the second consecutive game GSW shot 40 percent or better from beyond the arc. One major factor that led to the Hurricanes’ loss was their 15 turnovers. The Lakers capitalized on those turnovers and finished with a 27-8 advantage in points off turnovers.

GSW senior forward Andre Statam led the Hurricanes in scoring with a season-high 18 points. He nailed 4 of 7 three-point attempts. Statam tied Junior guard Jaylin Rutherford for the team lead in rebounds, as both pulled down six boards. Freshman forward Jamari Dean chipped in 12 points in the losing cause.

CSU had four of their five starters score in double-figures. Aubrey McRae led all scorers with 30 points and Justin Tuckson scored 20. McRae and Tuckson combined to hit 9 of 12 three-point attempts. Jaylen Taylor fell one rebound short of a double-double with 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds.

The Hurricanes will continue to try to end this losing streak when they travel to Dahlonega, GA on Saturday, February 2, to take on the Nighthawks of the University of North Georgia (7-11, 2-10 PBC). Tip-off is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.