Clinton boys go cold in loss to Lexington

The Clinton boys’ basketball team hit the court at the Templeton Center Saturday night to challenge one of the top teams in the state, and for nearly three quarters they appeared able to put up a strong fight.

From the late stages of the third quarter to the finish of the game, however, Clinton’s offense went stone cold and Lexington took full advantage. Lexington, after leading 37-32 late in the third, ran off 27 of the next 31 points and held Clinton to two field goals in the final 10 minutes as it pulled away to a 64-39 victory that sent Clinton to 3-9 on the season.

Lexington moved to 17-0 with the victory.

J.D. Payne led Clinton with 14 points, 12 of which came in the first half. Amari Bates followed with 12 points.

Clinton hosts Mid-Carolina Tuesday.

PC: The Presbyterian College men’s basketball team gave USC Upstate a rude welcome into the Big South Conference Saturday at the Templeton Center, pulling out a 64-61 victory when a last-gasp 3-pointer from Deion Holmes came up dry.

Francois Lewis had 16 points to lead PC, which won its third straight and is now 9-7 on the season. Cory Hightower had 13 points and eight rebounds, while Adam Flagler had 10 points.

PC visited High Point Thursday.

The PC women, meanwhile, were outscored 20-6 in the second quarter by the Campbell Fighting Camels and fell into a pit they could not get out of in a 51-46 loss in Buies Creek, N.C.

PC is now 2-10 overall, 0-1 in the Big South.

Kacie Hall led PC with 16 points, while Shamani Stafford scored 10 points.

PC hosts Longwood Tuesday.