Clayton State Begins National Championship Quest Tuesday in San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – For the second time in three years,
the Clayton State Lakers will have their shot a winning a national
championship as they begin play in the NCAA Elite Eight on Tuesday
at 3:30 from San Antonio, Texas. The Lakers (26-6) will take on the
champions of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference,
Alaska-Anchorage (30-3) in the national quarterfinals.
Clayton State reached this plateau after a dominating win over
Francis Marion 89-73 in the NCAA Southeast Region Championship game
where the Lakers were the #3 seed. Alaska-Anchorage, ranked #2 in
the nation, makes their second straight Elite Eight and advanced to
the semifinal round with a win over Franklin Pierce last year.
The two team present nearly diametrically opposed styles, with the
up-tempo cut-and-slash Lakers taking on the methodical and
unyielding defense of the Seawolves. Alaska-Anchorage has the #1
scoring defense in the nation, holding opponents to 47.8 points per
game. During the regionals, UAA did not allow any of their three
opponents to reach more than 54 points in a game and averaged 48.7
ppg for the three games. The Seawolves’ season average was
47.8. UAA is also tops in the nation in field goal percentage
defense, third in scoring margin and fourth in rebound margin.
Clayton State, meanwhile has one of the more potent scoring
offenses in the nation and enter the Elite Eight ranked 35th in the
nation with 74.2 ppg scored. The Lakers upped that margin to 78.6
ppg during the three games of the regional, increasing their point
totals with each game. The Lakers also shot 46.1% from the floor in
the regional.
But it is not as if the Lakers don’t play some defense
themselves. Clayton State is currently ranked fourth in the nation
in steals per game, second in turnover margin and ninth in
three-point field goal percentage defense, holding opponents to
just 26% shooting from beyond the arc on the season.
All games from the Elite Eight will broadcast over the internet on
NCAA.com. Live stats will also be available through NCAA.com just
prior to game time. The semifinals will be carried on ESPNU on
Wednesday with the championship game on Friday being televised on
ESPN2.
NCAA Interactive Bracket
Clayton State vs. Alaska-Anchorage – Live
video stream