Bucs Drop Conference Opener

BIRMINGHAM - The Shelton State Community College men's basketball team suffered an 88-85 loss at Lawson State in the ACCC opener for both teams. 

The game featured 17 lead changes and eight ties. 

Lawson State (9-7, 1-0 ACCC) used a 23-6 run in the second half to erase a 12-point deficit to take a 65-60 lead with 7:59 to play.

The Cougars took their biggest lead at 76-70 with 5:07 left.

Shelton State (13-4, 0-1 ACCC) used a 10-2 scoring spurt to take an 80-78 on a pair of freshman Rodwick Jackson free throws with 2:46 remaining.

Yusef Bowyer's three-pointer with 1:54 left gave the Cougars the lead for good at 82-80.

Lawson State scored 21 of its 48 second-half points at the free throw line.

The Cougars made 22-of-27 free throws in the game, including 21-of-25 in the second half.

Shelton State missed 14 free throws (18-of-32) in the loss.

After a back-and-forth first half, the Bucs got some separation with a 10-0 to end the half and take a 48-39 lead into halftime.

Bowyer paced the Cougars with a game-high 32 points. He hit five, 3-pointers and made 7-of-8 foul shots.

Jarrett Fairley (16) and Nick Byrnes (11) also added double figures for the Cougars.

Sophomore Shah Hall (Hillcrest HS) paced the Bucs with a career-high 19 points.

Sophomore DJ Hamlett (Hillcrest HS) and freshman Anderson Wilkin (Northridge) both had 13 points. Wilkin hit three, 3-pointers for the Bucs.

Shelton State returns to action on Monday, Jan. 19 against Calhoun Community College in the ACCC home opener at 7:30 p.m.