FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-28-04

Men’s College Basketball: Columbus State 73, AASU 67
Women’s College Basketball: No. 24 AASU 72, Columbus State 41

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State split a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader with visiting Columbus State in college basketball action on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Arena on Senior Day. The Lady Pirates clinched the No. 2 seed from the South Division in the upcoming PBC Championships with a convincing 72-41 win over Columbus State, while the CSU Cougars clinched the No. 2 seed from the South Division in the men’s bracket with a wire-to-wire 73-67 win.

The Cougars (19-7, 12-4 PBC) scored the first seven points of the contest and never relinquished the lead as they knocked off the Pirates (19-8, 10-6 PBC) for the second time this season. Only four players scored in the game for the Cougars, but it was enough as Yandel Brown’s 21 points, Kendrick Jones’ 20 points, Deshawn Bowman’s 18 points and John Thomas’ 14 points and 12 rebounds downed the Pirates. CSU took a seven point lead into halftime, but the Pirates came out in the second half on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to one. Each time the Pirates got to within a basket, however, the Cougars would hit one to re-establish the margin. AASU’s last chance came with 1:20 to go in the game and CSU up by just four, 68-64, but Daryl Williams missed a three-pointer and CSU hit five of six free throws in the final minute to clinch the win. Seven AASU seniors played in their final home game at AASU and it was Williams who led the way with 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Jason Sanders added 11 points and Brian Bain added 10 points.

In the women’s contest, a short-handed Columbus State squad had no answer for Armstrong Atlantic State as the Lady Pirates (21-6, 12-4 PBC) ran out to a 39-22 halftime lead and cruised to the 72-41 victory. Senior Tasha Washington, playing in her final game as a Pirate, led the way with 22 points and nine rebounds, while fellow senior Vandy Noldon scored 15 points, including 3-of-4 three-point shooting. AASU’s third senior, Marloes Renskers, played in her school record-tying 109th career game on Saturday and dished out a team-high five assists in the win. CSU (10-16, 5-11 PBC) dropped its seventh in a row and got 11 points and 11 rebounds from Angelica Graham and 11 points from Erin Gibbs.

AASU’s men will play on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in the PBC Championships against the loser of Saturday night’s USC Aiken/Lander game, while the AASU women will play on Thursday against the winner of the Clayton State/Francis Marion contest. The PBC Championships begin on Tuesday in Augusta, Ga., and run through Sunday. The AASU women are the defending champions, while Columbus State is the defending men’s champions.

-Pirates-