AMERICUS - Senior Milos Kleut posted the second double-double of his career with a 17-point, 10-rebound performance on Saturday afternoon to lead the Georgia Southwestern men's basketball team to a 70-54 victory over Clayton State in the Storm Dome.

GSW has won four-in-a-row and improves its mark to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the Peach Belt Conference. It's the first time in program history the Hurricanes have started 2-0 in PBC play. Clayton State is in the midst of a three-game losing streak and drops to 4-4 overall and 0-1 in the PBC.

The Hurricanes snap a two-game losing streak against the Lakers and edge closer to evening the series that Clayton State leads 9-6 during GSW's NCAA era.

The opening 20 minutes was a back-and-forth affair as the two sides exchanged the lead seven times before Tyler Gunnett sank a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left in the half to regain the lead for GSW, 34-32. It was an advantage the Hurricanes would not surrender the rest of the way. The largest lead of the first half was four points held by Clayton State at 27-23.

GSW has led at the half in seven of its eight games this season.  

A 6-0 run to start the second period gave the Hurricanes some breathing room. Clayton State pulled within five points on two occasions, the last coming at 42-37 with 14:52 to play, but that's as close as the Lakers could get.

An Alan Arnett 3-pointer with 9:12 left capped a 16-4 run and put the Hurricanes ahead by 17 points, 58-41.

GSW posted its largest lead of the night (19 points) in the closing moments when Kleut sank a pair of free throws to make the score 70-51 with 16 seconds remaining.

Both sides shot well in the first half as Clayton State was 13 of 29 (44.8 percent) and GSW connected on 12 of 24 (50 percent). Defense was the staple of the second half as GSW dropped to 37.9 percent shooting while holding Clayton State to 29.2 percent.

Second-chance points also proved critical down the stretch as GSW grabbed nine offensive boards while out-rebounding Clayton State, 21-10, in the second half. Second-chance points for the game favored GSW, 21-9.

GSW took advantage of 14 Clayton State miscues to post a 20-5 margin in points off turnovers and controlled the points in the paint, 34-18.

Shaw finished with 16 points on 6 of 8 shooting. Jamon Hawkins added 11 points for the Hurricanes.

Charles Shedrick scored 15 points to lead the Lakers. Tim Budd chipped in 12.

The Hurricanes are off for the holidays until Dec. 30 when they resume play at North Alabama.