FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-20-06

Men's College Basketball: No. 18 AASU 57, GC&SU 50
Women's College Basketball: AASU 75, GC&SU 61

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic men’s basketball team knocked off first-place GC&SU, 57-50, causing a jumble at the top of the PBC standings on Monday evening at Alumni Arena. The No. 18-ranked Pirates, GC&SU and Columbus State all have four losses atop the league standings with two more dates left in the season. AASU’s women completed the doubleheader sweep with a 75-61 win over the Lady Bobcats.

Armstrong Atlantic (20-5, 14-4 PBC) shot just 23 percent in a miserable first half that saw the Bobcats (18-7, 15-4 PBC) build a seven-point halftime lead, 27-20. The Pirates came out in the second half and held GC&SU to the same shooting performance in the second half, limiting the Bobcats to just seven field goals after intermission. AASU held the Bobcats scoreless for a six-minute stretch as the Pirates erased a 34-28 deficit and built a 40-34 advantage with the 12-0 run, then AASU held on down the stretch for the win. Senior Alex Carter led all scorers on the night with 17 points to go with nine rebounds on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor, while junior Bryan Taylor added a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Andre Smith came off the bench to pace three Bobcats in double figures with 14 points. Aaron Clark added 12 points and nine boards, while Ronnie Dennis chip in 10. The win gives head coach Jeff Burkhamer his second 20-win season in four years at AASU.

In the women’s contest, AASU used a 17-1 first-half run to pull away from the Lady Bobcats and cruise to the 14-point victory. The Lady Pirates (14-11, 9-9 PBC) got 18 points and 14 rebounds from senior Audosha Kelley as three other AASU players reached double figures in the contest, the third straight win for head coach Roger Hodge’s squad. GC&SU (14-12, 9-10 PBC) got 17 points from PBC Player of the Week LaWanna Leon but it wasn’t enough to give head coach John Carrick his 400th career victory. Peaches Howard and Tana Griffiths each collected 11 points for the Lady Pirates, who outrebounded the Lady Bobcats by an impressive 63-37 margin.

Armstrong Atlantic returns to action on Wednesday, February 15, as the Pirates travel to USC Upstate for a Peach Belt doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m.

-Pirates-