ASU-Clayton State Peach Belt quarterfinal game

A decent crowd is starting to shuffle into the USC Aiken convocation center for the matchup with No. 10 Augusta State and one of its main rivals, Clayton State. It will be a battle today. It would've been a 30-point walk if UNC Pembroke had upset Clayton State in the first round. Instead, Augusta State will have to earn today's victory.

Jaguar All-American senior forward Tyrekus "A.J." Bowman, junior center Garret Siler and sophomore guard Ben Madgen just received all-conference plaques from Peach Belt commissioner Dave Brunk. Bowman also received a plaque for winning co-conference player of the year.

Introductions are ongoing. One key for the Jaguars today: keeping Siler out of foul trouble. If Siler can log 30 minutes, ASU will win by at least 10. If he gets in foul trouble, Clayton State has a real chance.

With 4:20 left in first half, ASU leads 29-15

In a very physical contest, Jaguars are not backing down. ASU has scored six points in six minutes since Siler and Bowman went to the bench with two fouls.

Halftime: ASU 34, Clayton State 23

The Jaguars survived the final 10 minutes of the first half thanks to a gutsy performance by their bench. ASU led by 14 when Bowman and Siler went to the bench with two fouls apiece. The Jaguars were able to retain a double-digit lead at halftime, even with Madgen 0-for-6 from the floor. Caleb Brown came off the bench for five points, while Daniel Dixon's added three.

Bowman and Siler are a combined 7-for-10 from the floor for 17 points. With his 11 points, Bowman moved up to third in Peach Belt Conference career scoring with 1,675. He needs 40 more points to move into second place. It won't happen this game, but he could easily move into second if Augusta State can reach the tournament championship game.

Clayton State is not helping itself at the free-throw line, where the Lakers are 4-for-11. Tracy Williams leads Clayton State with 10 points.

With 15:06 left in the game, ASU leads 38-35

Clayton State's opened the second half on a 12-4 run. Tracy Williams converted a rare four-point play. Will Lewis just dunked over Siler.

Bowman and Siler each have picked up their third foul. Referees are calling a tight game after letting the teams play in the first half.

With 13:30 remaining, ASU leads 42-37

Siler just took a pass inside from Dixon and threw down a monsterous, two-handed dunk. Clayton State called time.

About 30 seconds earlier, Dee Howard grabbed Madgen's missed 3-point attempt and put it back in to push ASU's lead to three.

With 7:30 left in the game, ASU trails 50-48

Tracy Williams has put Clayton State on his back. Williams has scored 22 points, including the two go-ahead free throws for the Lakers' first lead.

With 6:37 left in the game, ASU and Clayton State are tied at 50

Siler made a layup to tie the game but missed a free throw. Bowman just blocked Jerome Boyd inside and Steve Smith grabbed the rebound and called timeout.

This game is going to go down to the wire.

With 5:02 left, ASU leads 53-51

Howard just drained a 3-pointer for ASU. Siler picked up his fourth foul on the other end. Ricky Garrett made one of two foul shots. If the Lakers lose, they can point to their free-throw shooting (9-for-18).

With 3:00 remaining, ASU leads 58-51

Clayton State just called timeout. Madgen drained a 3-pointer from the right wing and gave a look of relief after hitting his first shot in 12 attempts.

Madgen later ran down a loose ball at midcourt and went in for the fast-break layup. The Blue Crew in attendance, getting louder by the moment, are starting to sniff a win.

With 1:25 remaining, ASU leads 60-56

The Jaguars aren't out of the woods yet. Clayton State's Will Lewis just scored around Bowman for a layup to cut the ASU lead to four.

With 1:08 left, ASU leads 62-59

After Howard drained two free throws, Michael Sloan knocked down a 3-pointer from the top of the key to pull the Lakers within three.

With 20.2 seconds remaining, ASU trails 63-62

Clayton State's Bernard Fields, an Aiken Tech grad, tied the game with a 3-pointer. Then, Will Lewis hit one of two free throws.

Final: Clayton State 63, ASU 62

Bowman missed two shots from the perimeter in the final eight seconds. ASU off until next week's Division II Tournament.