FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1-27-01

Men's Basketball: AASU 81, Kennesaw State 76
Women's Basketball: No. 14 Kennesaw State 87, AASU 60

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team hit 11-of-13 three-pointers on Saturday afternoon en route to winning its ninth straight game of the season, downing Kennesaw State, 81-76, and earning a split of a Peach Belt Conference basketball doubleheader.

The Pirates (16-5, 8-0 PBC) placed five players in double figures and put on a long-distance shooting clinic as junior Mick Jordan (5-for-5), senior Tavares Brown (3-for-3) and sophomore Joel Leoeuvre (2-for-2) were each perfect from three-point range. AASU led by five at halftime, 41-36, and stretched their lead to 13 in the second half, but Kennesaw State (5-12, 1-7 PBC) rallied to tie the game at 73-all with 3:25 left. But AASU would score the next four points and the Pirates made four free throws in the final 10 seconds to seal the victory.

Senior Robert Campbell, the reigning PBC Player of the Year, led the Pirates with 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the field. Jordan notched 17 points and a trio of players scored 13 points – Lecoeuvre, Brown and senior Greg Favors. KSU was led by Hala Kaufusi's 21 points. The win extends AASU's second-longest conference winning streak and overall winning streak to nine.

In women's action, No. 14 Kennesaw State used a 19-3 run in the first half to build a 46-30 halftime lead, then held the Lady Pirates to just 26 percent shooting in the second half for an 87-60 win, the Lady Owls' 10^th consecutive win over AASU.

The Pirates (7-11, 2-6 PBC) lost their fifth straight contest as Kennesaw State (15-3, 6-2 PBC) forced 30 AASU turnovers and made twice as many field goals as the Lady Pirates. AASU went just 16-of-51 from the floor (31.4 percent) and hit just 2-of-12 three-point tries on the afternoon. Sophomore Zandrique Cason led the Lady Pirates with 17 points and nine rebounds, while junior Becky Thrift added 13 points. KSU placed five players in double figures, led by Anna Szaniecka, who had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

The AASU men's and women's basketball teams are next in action on Wednesday, Jan. 31 as they host the University of North Florida at 5:30 p.m. (women) and 7:30 p.m. (men).

- Pirates -