FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-18-07
Day One Wrapup: 2007 Chatham Orthopedics Holiday Classic
SAVANNAH, Ga. (December 18) – The Armstrong Atlantic State men’s basketball team avenged an earlier season loss to West Georgia by taking a 71-60 win over the Wolves to highlight the first day of action at the 2007 Chatham Orthopedics Holiday Classic on Tuesday in Savannah.
The Pirates (4-2), who lost by two in Carrollton back on November 24, opened the game on a 11-5 run and never trailed in knocking off the Wolves (6-3) in the final game of the day in the Classic. West Georgia made just one if its first 12 shots from the floor and finished the night by shooting 36 percent (22-of-61), including only 3-of-22 from beyond the arc. The Pirates shot 53.6 percent from the floor (25-of-47) and were paced by senior Jamaal Galloway, who hit 8-of-11 shots from the floor and 4-of-7 from three-point range for 22 points. Corey Johnson added 10 points and Will Kane dished out 11 assists for AASU, while West Georgia was led by Paul Harper’s game-high 28 points and 12 rebounds in his first action of the season.
On the women’s side, the Lady Pirates (6-2) used a 12-2 run midway through the second half to pull away from winlees Queens (0-8) and pick up a 77-60 victory. Senior Kaneetha Gordon led all players with 16 points to go with eight rebounds, while Lacey Willis notched 12 points and Dartayvia Thomas notched a career-high 11 points. The Royals were led by Marissa Hudley’s 13 points on a perfect 6-for-6 night from the field, including one three-pointer.
The first men’s game of the day saw Lenoir-Rhyne (6-1) use a 28-0 run in the second half to dismantle Columbus State (3-6), 72-43. A Travis Matthews three-pointer with 15:50 left in the second half made the score 31-29 in favor of Lenoir-Rhyne, but the Cougars missed their next 16 shots as the Bears built a 59-29 lead over the next 10 minutes. Reggie Bratton led all scorers for the Bears with 21 points on 10-of-12 shooting from the floor, while Josh Rudder added 13 points. Columbus State was led by Jeff Tarver’s 11 points and eight rebounds.
In the first women’s game, Mars Hill (5-2) held off a late charge from Concord (4-2) to pick up a 73-67 win. The Lions led by as many as 18 in the second half, but Concord’s Becca Flanagan hit a three-pointer with 9.9 seconds left to cut the lead to three, 70-67. Mars Hill closed out the win by hitting three of four free throws. Jessica Blanford led Mars Hill with 15 points, while Ariel Okunowo chipped in 14 points. Concord was led by Samm Nester’s game-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor.
Action in the Classic concludes on Wednesday with four games. Concord takes on Queens in women’s action at 1 p.m., then Columbus State faces West Georgia at 3 p.m. AASU’s women host Mars Hill at 6 p.m., and the Pirate men close out action with an 8 p.m. matchup against Lenoir-Rhyne.
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