FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - 1-15-03

Men's Basketball: AASU 73, USC Aiken 67 OT

AIKEN, S.C. - (January 15) Junior Brian Bain scored nine points after regulation as the Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team survived overtime at USC Aiken, winning 73-67 at the Courthouse in Aiken, S.C., on Wednesday evening.

Bain hit a floater in the lane with 1:11 remaining in overtime to give the Pirates the lead, 66-65, then converted on a three-point play with 50 seconds left to give the Pirates a four-point lead. A layup by Lee Burton drew the Pacers back to within two points, 69-67, with 30 seconds left, but then Dave Pisarcik sank two free throws and Bain scored a dunk with 9.6 seconds left to seal the victory, the fourth for AASU (5-8, 4-2 PBC) in its last five games.

USC Aiken (2-12, 1-5 PBC) scored eight straight points over the final 1:41 of the second half to erase a 58-50 lead by AASU and force overtime. Jamall Gray's three-point play with 16 seconds left tied the score at 58-all and Ian Jones' three-point try hit off the front rim as time expired in regulation.

In the first half, the Pirates took a four-point lead into intermission thanks to Williams' 10 points and Brian Bain's nine points. Bain finished the evening with a season-high 25 points and Williams added 20 points for AASU. USC Aiken, who dropped its sixth consecutive game, was led by Lee Burton's 17 points and Jamall Gray's 13 points.

AASU will be next in action on Saturday, January 18 at 3:00 p.m. at No. 10-ranked Columbus State.

- Pirates -