FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 2-17-01

Men's Basketball: AASU 67, USC Spartanburg 62
Women's Basketball: AASU 73, USC Spartanburg 58

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team clinched its second Peach Belt Conference regular season title with a 67-62 win, its 15^th consecutive victory, over USC Spartanburg on Saturday afternoon, completing a doubleheader sweep of the Rifles.

The Pirates (22-5, 14-0 PBC) won their second Peach Belt title in the same place as they won their first – in Spartanburg, S.C. On Feb. 18, 1995, AASU defeated USCS 101-85 to clinch the Pirates' first conference title.

Saturday, it was senior guard Robert Campbell who stepped up and delivered the win. Campbell hit for a season-high 27 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-3 three-pointers. His three-pointer with 4:39 left put AASU up, 50-45, and his jumper with 57 seconds left put the Pirates up by six, 58-52. AASU then made 7-of-8 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory, the 15^th straight by the Pirates and also the eighth straight away from home.

Greg Favors added 10 points for the Pirates, while USC Spartanburg (14-10, 8-7 PBC) was led by Sherron Singleton and Steve Rudic's 13 points apiece.

In women's action, the Lady Pirates opened up the game on a 26-9 run and never looked back, snapping a four-game losing streak by defeating the Lady Rifles, 73-58.

The Lady Pirates (9-15, 4-10 PBC) shot 56.6 percent from the floor in winning for just the second time in their past 11 games. USC Spartanburg (7-18, 2-13 PBC) shot just 36.4 percent for the game and made just one of nine three-point attempts.

Sophomore forward Zandrique Cason led the Lady Pirates with 17 points and eight rebounds, while junior Lexie Martin scored 14 points, including 3-of-6 from three-point range. Senior Michelle Hubbard added 11 points and junior Becky Thrift chipped in 10. USCS was led by Qusha Burley's 17 points and La'nel Hill's 12 points.

The AASU men's and women's basketball teams next host Augusta State on Wednesday, February 21 at 5:30 p.m. (women) and 7:30 p.m. (men).

- Pirates -