Day One Wrapup: 2007 SpringHill Suites Midtown New Year Classic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-28-07

Day One Wrapup: 2007 SpringHill Suites Midtown New Year Classic

SAVANNAH, Ga. (December 28) – The Armstrong Atlantic State men’s basketball team held on for a one-point 62-61 victory over Virginia State, stopping two Trojan possessions in the final minute, to make the Peach Belt Conference 2-0 in the first day of the 2007 SpringHill Suites Midtown New Year Classic in Savannah on Friday night.

The Pirates (6-2) saw an 11-point second-half lead whittled away to just one on Terrell Crockett’s layup with 1:28 remaining, making the score 62-61 in favor of AASU. A missed layup by Corey Johnson gave the Trojans the ball with a chance to take the lead, but Brian Moultrie stole the entry pass with 33 seconds left. Virginia State would get one more chance after a missed front end of a one-and-one by the Pirates, but Edwin Torres’ pull-up jumper rimmed out with four seconds left, giving AASU the win.

Virginia State picked up an eye-popping 25 offensive rebounds in the game, and forced 21 turnovers by the Pirates. The Trojans hit just 2-of-16 three-pointers, however, while the Pirates were not much better at 5-for-20 from beyond the arc.

Four AASU players reached double figures, led by junior T.T. Hall’s 20 points and double-doubles from juniors Moultrie (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Calvin Wilson (11 points, 10 rebounds). Corey Johnson added 13 points and seven assists for the Pirates. Virginia State (3-6) was led by Clifton Springfield-Cobb’s 15 points and Terrell Crockett’s double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds.

In the first game of the day, GCSU and Chowan put on a three-point shooting clinic as the two teams combined to make 57 percent from beyond the arc in a 72-61 win by the Bobcats. GCSU hit 12-of-21 threes from beyond the arc, led by Shaun Keaton’s 25 points on 5-of-8 shooting from three-point range. Graham Martin added 16 points for the Bobcats, while Chowan was led by Aaron Scott’s 12 points. Keaton has now scored 64 points in his last three games in Alumni Arena, dating back to last season.

Play in the 2007 SpringHill Suites Midtown New Year’s Classic concludes on Saturday as GCSU faces Virginia State at 1:00 p.m., followed by host AASU taking on Chowan at 3:30 p.m.

- Pirates -