FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 11-15-04

Men's College Basketball: AASU 89, Queens (N.C.) 77

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State shot a blistering 70 percent in the second half to run past Queens (N.C.), 89-77, in both team’s season opener at Alumni Arena on Monday evening in Savannah, Ga.

The Pirates (1-0) trailed by as many as eight in the first half as Queens (0-1) started out by hitting 10 of its first 15 shots from the floor. AASU closed the half by scoring four points in the final five seconds – on a layup and two free throws by senior Lorenzo Lawrence – to make the Royals’ lead at halftime just two, 43-41.

After intermission, the momentum continued for the Pirates as they opened the half with a 7-2 run and eventually built a double-digit 81-71 lead on junior Alex Carter’s layup with 4:43 remaining in the contest. The Pirates would hit 21-of-30 shots from the floor after intermission in outscoring the Royals, 48-34, in the second frame.

Sophomore Bryan Taylor recorded a career-high 24 points and 13 rebounds in leading four AASU players in double figures. Senior Lorenzo Lawrence added 23 points while freshman Jamal Galloway and Carter each chipped in 11 points on perfect nights from the floor.

Queens was led by Esau Eatman’s game-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting from the floor – including 2-of-2 three-pointers – and 6-of-10 shots from the free throw line. Timon Farley was the only other Royal player to reach double figures with 14 points.

AASU dominated the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Royals by a wide 42-27 margin. The Pirates finished the game hitting 56 percent of their shots, compared to 44 percent for the Royals. Queens did not hit a three in the second half, going 0-for-7, and shot just 11-of-29 overall from the floor after intermission (38 percent).

The Pirates next travel to Wingate, N.C., to face the Bulldogs at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 20. Queens next faces Johnson C. Smith on Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

-Pirates-