FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-5-00

Men's Basketball: AASU 87, Columbus State 82
Women's Basketball: AASU 77, Columbus State 75

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Robert Campbell's 23 points and career-high 13 assists helped Armstrong Atlantic State sweep a Peach Belt Athletic Conference basketball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon from visiting Columbus State. AASU's men prevailed, 87-82, while the women's team won, 77-75, on a last-second shot from sophomore Lexie Martin.

The Pirates (11-10, 8-3 PBAC) shot a scorching 65 percent from the field in the first half, but went into intermission tied with the Cougars (12-7, 4-6 PBAC) at 49-all because Columbus State hit 9 of 18 first-half three-pointers. In the second half, Campell keyed a Pirate surge that put AASU up by 10, 68-58, with 11:19 remaining. The Cougars battled back with key threes from Travis Crutcher and tied the ballgame at 74-all with 5:20 left, but in the span of the next 60 seconds, Campbell dished an assist to Greg Favors for a layup, made two free throws and then made a steal that led to a layup to put AASU back up by six. Cyrille Mainnemarre led the Pirates in scoring with 25 points – 19 in the first half – to go with Campbell's 23 points. Favors ended the game with his sixth double-double of the season with career-highs in points (19) and rebounds (16). Crutcher led Columbus State with 22 points as the Cougars put up season-highs in three-pointers made and attempted, hitting 15 of 35 from beyond the arc.

In women's action, the Lady Pirates (5-16, 2-7 PBAC) trailed by 14 at halftime to the Lady Cougars (16-7, 6-4 PBAC), but AASU turned it around in the second half, shooting 63 percent from the floor and making six-of-seven three-pointers. With the score tied at 75-all, Lexie Martin's shot over a double-team went in and gave the Pirates their first win over Columbus State since the 1996-97 season, snapping a six-game Lady Cougar win streak in the series. Martin led all scorers with 26 points, while freshman Duanda Ball added 20 points for the Lady Pirates. Haley Cook led the Lady Cougars with 19 points.

Both the AASU men's and women's teams return to action on Saturday, Feb. 12 as they travel to Aiken, S.C., to take on the USC Aiken Pacers in PBAC play. Game times are 5:30 p.m. (women) and 7:30 p.m. (men).

- Pirates -