MORROW, GEORGIA — The University of South Carolina Beaufort men's basketball team opened the New Year with a dominant 102–82 victory over Clayton State on Saturday evening to start the New Year. Sand Sharks used a strong first half scoring 57 points opening the big lead before closing out the win.
With the victory, the Sand Sharks improved to 9–4 overall and 3–3 in conference play, while Clayton State dropped to 1–13 on the season and 0–6 in Peach Belt action.
Qurahn Anderson led USCB with 17 points, one of six players to score in double figures in a balanced offensive effort. Evan Kilminster and Ismail Rashid each added 13 points, followed by Nolan Paladugu (12), Hudson Norton (11), and Kevaughn Price (10). Dominic Eason pulled down a team-high eight rebounds, while Seth Cullen and Shea Champine each recorded a team-high three assists.
The Sand Sharks jumped out early as Price scored the game's first basket in the opening minute. Kilminster knocked down a three-pointer to extend the early lead, before Paladugu followed by hitting back-to-back three-pointers as USCB took a 9–3 advantage with 18:18 remaining in the first half.
USCB continued to control the pace as Lukas Platauna connected from beyond the arc with 14:34 left, pushing the lead to double digits for the first time at 20–10. The Sand Sharks maintained a 10-point cushion over the next several minutes, holding a 30–20 lead following a layup by Price, his 10th point of the half.
A 9–1 run midway through the half allowed USCB to stretch the lead to 18, as the defense held Clayton State scoreless on eight straight attempts and forced two turnovers. After the Lakers trimmed the margin to 14, Kilminster sparked another run with a three-pointer, helping the Sand Sharks push the lead to 20 at 48–28.
USCB finished the first half with 57 points, knocking down 10 three-pointers and shooting 48.5 percent from the field to take a 57–36 lead into halftime.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half until Clayton State made a push, using a 10–0 run to cut the deficit to single digits at 62–53. The Lakers would get as close as seven, but Anderson responded with a basket to regain the momentum for the Sand Sharks.
Clayton State pulled within seven on three more occasions, but USCB answered each time. With 10 minutes remaining, the Sand Sharks extended the lead back to 12 and continued to pull away. Champine capped the run with a layup and an assist to Eason, pushing the lead to 20 at 95–75 once more. USCB's largest lead reached 25 before Champine added the final points in the 102–82 victory.
The Sand Sharks return home on Wednesday, January 7, for their first home game of the New Year, hosting Flagler College at 7:30 p.m.
Stay tuned to uscbathletics.com and follow Sand Shark Athletics on social media for the latest news, updates, and information.
