KIRTLAND, Ohio – Lakeland Community College men's basketball had the offensive firepower to stay in the game but the Lakers couldn't get stops late when they needed them the most in an 89-83 loss to Clark State Community College Saturday afternoon.
The loss drops Lakeland to 2-12 overall and 1-4 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference play.
All five starters scored in double figures for Lakeland as Trey Granger led with 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Aaron Pate hit a pair of 3-pointers and finished with 16 points.
Ty Howard scored 13, Jeramie Burge finished with 12 and Chandler Fointno tossed in 10 points in the loss.
Lakeland started the game off strong by jumping out to a 7-2 lead after a 3-pointer from Pate 1:12 into the game. Clark State stormed back and took an 18-13 lead at the 14:51 mark. The lead went back and forth in the opening half as Fointno scored all 10 of his points in the first half but it was Clark State leading 39-38 at the break.
The Lakers came out with great energy to open the second half and started it off with a 9-2 run capped by a driving layup from Granger for a 48-41 lead with 16:35 left. Lakeland held on to a 57-52 with 13:17 left but Clark State fought back with a 16-2 run that gave the Eagles a 68-59 lead.
Lakeland would make the game close on occasion in the second half, getting with two points on two separate occasions but the Lakers were unable to get key stops in the final minutes. Clark State broke through the Lakeland full-court pressure to grinded out a six-point victory.
Howard scored 13 in the second half while Granger and Burge each scored 10. Free throw shooting was a battle for the Lakers as they made just 5-of-16 freebies in the game.
Lakeland will look to rebound with another conference home game on Wednesday, Jan. 24 against Owens Community College at 7:30 p.m.
For more information about Lakeland athletics, visit www.athletics.lakelandcc.edu.
About Lakeland Community College
Founded in 1967, Lakeland Community College was the first college in Ohio created by a vote of the people. True to our mission, Lakeland provides quality learning opportunities to meet the social and economic needs of the community.
Offering day, evening, weekend and online classes, the college serves more than 10,800 credit and 2,800 noncredit students (2016). For more information about the College, visit www.lakelandcc.edu.
