MORROW, Ga.----The Lander men's basketball team, despite 19 points from Jarred Jackson and 16 from Michael Griffin, suffered its first Peach Belt Conference defeat of the season Saturday night when the Bearcats lost to No. 2-ranked Clayton State University, 70-63.
Clayton State remained unbeaten and improves to 15-0 overall and 4-0 in the PBC, while Lander slips to 8-6, 3-1.
Jackson connected on 4-of-10 field goals and 8-of-11 free throws and also had four assists. Griffin was 6-of-15 from the field and also grabbed eight rebounds. Zach Evans added 10 points in the loss.
The Lakers were led by Kelley Brandon and Michael Sloan, who had 13 points each, while Todd McLaurin added 10. John Beugnot led Clayton State in rebounds with 10.
Clayton State, which led Lander at halftime, 31-26, made 27-of-53 floor shots for 50.9 percent, 6-of-14 threes for 42.9 percent and 10-of-18 free throws for 55.6 percent.
Lander was 20-of-56 from the field (35.7 percent), 13-of-33 from the three-point line (39.4 percent), and 10-of-16 from the free throw line (62.5 percent).
