MORROW, Ga. – Augusta State junior forward Harold Doby hit a pair of go-ahead free throws with 1:07 remaining Saturday night to lift the Jaguars to a 64-62 Peach Belt Conference road win at Clayton State.
The victory was the second in as many years for the Jags in the Athletics and Fitness Center and it marked ASU's fourth straight win in the series with the Lakers.
In addition, the victory was ASU's third in a row and its fourth in the last five games. The win lifted the Jags to 8-6 overall (4-2 in the PBC), while the Lakers, who began the season 7-1, dropped to 9-5 (2-4 in the PBC).
ASU redshirt freshman forward Devon Wright-Nelson booked a career-high 20 points and game-high nine rebounds while connecting on 9-of-11 shots. Freshman guard Devonte Thomas netted 14 points and three 3-pointers, while Doby tallied 11 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Laker senior guard Anthony Salter pitched in a game-high 25 points and Teondre Williams, the PBC's second-leading scorer at 20.8 ppg., was held to just 12.
In a contest that featured 11 ties and 13 lead changes, ASU moved in front by as much as seven on a Kelth Cameron layup at the 11:03 mark of the second half. Clayton countered with consecutive baskets before O'Neal Armstrong's 3-pointer gave the Jags a 55-49 advantage with 8:31 left.
Williams scored five straight on a trey and pair of free throws to get the Lakers within 55-54 at the 6:50 mark. After trading baskets, the Jags' Thomas connected on two from the charity stripe for a 59-56 ASU lead with 5:28 to play. Salter hit two free throws and then canned a jumper to put the Lakers in front 60-59 with 3:59 to go.
Exactly one minute later, Doby hit 1-of-2 free throws and, following a Laker turnover, Thomas drilled a jumper on a feed from Armstrong for a 62-60 Jaguar lead with 2:22 left. Just 10 seconds later, Salter countered with a jumper to force the 11th tie of the game. After the teams swapped turnovers, Doby was fouled by CSU's Juron Dobbs to set up the final go-ahead points of the game.
ASU shot 51.9 percent in the first half and 49.0 percent for the game. The Lakers owned the rebounding edge 30-29 and canned eight 3-pointers.
The Jags travel to USC Aiken on Monday, Jan. 16 to take on the East Division-leading Pacers in the Convocation Center at 7:30 p.m.
