MORROW, Ga. | Corey Nelson scored a career-best 28 points for Young Harris College, but that wasn't enough as Clayton State University recorded a 94-75 Peach Belt Conference men's basketball victory Wednesday (Jan. 3) evening at the Clayton State Athletics & Fitness Center.

The Lakers improved to 6-3 overall and to 4-1 in the Peach Belt, while the Mountain Lions slipped to 3-9 and 2-4. Young Harris returns to the YHC Basketball Arena for the first time in 2018 as they entertain Georgia Southwestern State University in a 3:30 p.m. PBC affair.

Clayton State started to take control of the game in the latter stages of the first half. The Lakers scored six unanswered points to take a 32-22 lead after three-pointer by Denzel Council with 6:25 remaining. 

The Mountain Lions used a 9-2 run over the next two minutes to cut the lead down to 34-31 on a jumper by Ben Waterhouse, who is fourth on the all-time YHC scoring chart in the NCAA era with 1,042 points. However, the Lakers ended the half on an 8-2 run to take a 42-33 lead into the locker room.

Layups from Nelson and Waterhouse 48 seconds into the  second half trimmed the deficit to four points (42-38), but Clayton State scored the next seven points to open up a 49-38 lead on a steal and jumper from Dantez Bennamon with 17:40 to play. The Mountain Lions made a couple of runs to get within six points, the last time (55-49) after a J.B. Charles layup with 11:59 remaining. The Lakers then opened up a 13-point lead (62-49) after they scored the next seven points.

The closest the Mountain Lions would get the remainder of the way was nine points (72-63) with just under seven to go. The Lakers, who shot 56.5 percent (35-of-62) - the highest percentage surrendered by the Mountain Lions this season, led by as many as 19 points,

Bennamon led the Lakers with 22 points, while Council and Moses Williams added 18 points. Council also grabbed 10 rebounds. Nathan Powell (16) and Jaylen Taylor (10) also finished in double figures.

Nelson shot 9-of-15 from the field and converted as 10 free throw attempts to lead the Mountain Lions, who only shot 38.0 percent (27-of-71) from the floor. Nelson's previous career high of 17 points came earlier this season against Palm Beach Atlantic University. Nicksen Blanc recorded a double double with 15 points and game-high 12 rebounds, while Waterhouse finished with 12 points. Charles also finished in double figures with 11 points.