FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-18-06

Men's College Basketball: AASU 50, USC Upstate 49
Women's College Basketball: USC Upstate 60, AASU 56

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Junior Tory Harris’ three-point play with 3.9 seconds remaining gave host Armstrong Atlantic State a 50-49 Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball victory over USC Upstate on Wednesday evening in Savannah, stretching AASU’s win streak to eight. The win also salvaged a split in the league double dip as USC Upstate’s women knocked off AASU, 60-56.

The Pirates (12-2, 6-1 PBC) looked like they would cruise to their eighth straight win when they jumped out to a 13-point halftime lead on the Spartans (10-3, 5-2 PBC), 33-20. AASU hit five-of-nine three-pointers in the first half and held USC Upstate to just 28.6 percent shooting in before intermission. In the second half, however, the Spartans erased the advantage and took a two-point lead, 49-47, with 3:16 remaining. Neither team could make a shot until Harris made a driving layup – the first field goal for the Pirates in the second half in more than 12 minutes – and drew the foul with 3.9 seconds left. Harris sank the shot to put the Pirates up by one, and the Spartans turned it over trying to go the length of the court to get off a final shot. Bryan Taylor led the Pirates offensively on the night with 10 points, while William Kane chipped in nine and Harris ended the game with five. Luke Payne led all scorers for the Spartans with 13 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-5 three-pointers.

USC Upstate (8-6, 5-2 PBC) hit an outstanding 56 percent from the floor in the first half, building a 38-35 halftime lead and holding on for a four-point win over the Armstrong Atlantic women in the first game. The Lady Pirates (8-6, 3-4 PBC) turned the ball over 25 times in the contest and hit just 2-of-13 three-pointers, while the Lady Spartans placed three players in double figures, led by Courtney Bradley’s 13 points and Lele Miles’ and Kristen Metcalf’s 10 points. Audosha Kelley led all scorers for the Lady Pirates with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor, while Alicia Durham chipped in 11 points – all in the first half.

Armstrong Atlantic returns to action on Saturday, January 21, as the Pirates travel to North Georgia for a Peach Belt doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. USC Upstate is next in action on Saturday as well at Augusta State for a doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.

-Pirates-