FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1-5-01

Men's Basketball: AASU 60, USC Spartanburg 53
Women's Basketball: AASU 66, USC Spartanburg 52

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team completed a Peach Belt Conference sweep of visiting USC Spartanburg with a 60-53 victory on Saturday night at Alumni Arena. The AASU women also defeated USC Spartanburg, 66-52, earlier in the evening.

The Pirates (6-4, 2-1 PBC) took a three-point lead into halftime over the Rifles (3-7, 0-3 PBC) on junior Brian Hobbs' three-point shot with three seconds left. USCS scored 10 of the first 13 points of the second half, however, and eventually stretched their lead to five, 47-42, with 7:31 remaining in the second half. The Pirates battled back, using a three-point play and two free throws from senior Willard Winn to tie the game at 47-all, then take the lead for good on senior Bart Westgeest's layup with 4:38 left. Winn led all scorers on the evening with 16 points to go with seven rebounds and four blocked shots, while junior Lamarr Chears chipped in 13 points off of the bench and senior Mick Jordan added 10 points and five steals. Kevin Harrington led USCS with 14 points.

In the women's game, the Lady Pirates (4-6, 2-1 PBC) held the Lady Rifles (1-8, 0-3 PBC) to just 29 percent shooting from the floor in their 66-52 win. Junior Shaletra Hodge scored a game-high 14 points to go with eight rebounds, while junior Zandrique Cason added 12 points and eight rebounds. Freshman Ebony McMullen added a career-high nine points and nine rebounds as the Lady Pirates won their sixth straight over USC Spartanburg. Kia Manuel and La'nel Hill led the Lady Rifles with 10 points apiece.

The Pirate basketball teams return to action on Monday, January 7 as they travel to Pembroke, N.C., to face the Braves in a PBC doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m. USC Spartanburg next hosts Clayton State in a doubleheader on Monday, January 7 beginning at 5:30 p.m.

- Pirates -