MORROW, Ga. – Redshirt-senior forward Alfonso Davis (Bronx, N.Y.) had a night for the ages as he broke the program single game rebound record with 21 and helped Clayton State (12-11, 7-7 PBC) blow past North Georgia (12-11, 8-6 PBC) by an 89-63 score in an NCAA Division II men's basketball game on Monday, February 6.
 
Davis delivered the single greatest rebounding performance in the history of the men's program, breaking a record first set in 1991-92, the second season of the program. That mark was set by Keith Herring, who will be inducted into the Clayton State Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend, with 19 boards against Brewton-Parker (1/11/92) and later tied by Sherod Flono vs. Limestone (2/19/97).
 
In fact, Davis himself tied that mark on January 13, 2016 when he hauled in 19 boards against Georgia College. In that game he also pulled down 17 off of the defensive glass to set a program record, a mark he equaled tonight.
 
"Besides winning a championship, it was one of my goals this season," said Davis. "It feels really good to finally break it and have it all to myself."
 
In addition to his herculean rebounding effort, Davis scored 16 points to go with a career-high six blocks, the latter surpassing his previous mark of five, also set against North Georgia on January 24, 2016. He would be joined by a number of notable performances by his teammates, including a near triple-double from junior guard Nathan Powell (Orlando, Fla.) who finished with eight points, seven assists and seven boards.
 
Graduate forward Jaumonee Byrd (Douglasville, Ga.) finished with 16 points and five caroms while junior guard Dantez Bennamon (Goose Creek, S.C.) dropped 17 points along with four assists and a pair of steals. Graduate guard Mike Scott (Gaithersburg, Md.) and sophomore forward Jaylen Taylor (Hephzibah, Ga.) rounded things out with eight points apiece.
 
Both teams would be evenly matched over the first 5:35 as they deadlocked at 12-12 before a Bennamon three-pointer made it 15-12 at the 13:24 mark. Following a bucket by UNG to cut it to one, the Lakers would explode for a 16-4 run over the next 6:14 to make it 31-19. They would then maintain a double-digit lead and increase it to 47-28 by the half.
 
The Nighthawks would close to within 15 at 50-35 just over four minutes into the second half but things would get progressively worse from there. Clayton State would deliver the knockout blow with a 15-2 run to extend to a commanding 65-37 margin by the 13:29 mark.
 
North Georgia would mount a rally and eventually close to within 74-56 but that would be as close as they would get. The Lakers would use a 15-7 run to end the game and close out the 89-63 victory going away.
 
Shaquan Cantrell led UNG with 16 points while Ephraim Tshimanga posted a solid all-around game with five points, five boards, five assists and a pair of steals. They were joined by Duke Robinson with 11 points as the only other double-digit scorer and Denzell Hosch and Ross Morkem each had eight points. Roderick English rounded things out with six points and five rebounds.
 
The Lakers return to action on Wednesday, February 8 when they head to Columbus State. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m. following the conclusion of the women's contest.
 
NOTES
With his 21 rebounds, Davis becomes only the second Laker, men's or women's, to reach the 20-board plateau … he joins Catreia Shaw, who holds the all-time mark of 23 rebounds set against USC Aiken on January 11, 2003 … his rebounding total is the second highest in the Peach Belt Conference this year, trailing only Mark Matthews of USC Aiken, who pulled down 23 against NAIA St. Andrews on November 12 … the all-time PBC record is 27 by Reggie McKoy of Kennesaw State, who grabbed 27 vs. Augusta on January 24, 2004 … the Lakers largest lead of the game would be 31 points, 72-41, with 8:35 to play.