FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-20-03

Men's College Basketball: AASU 58, Lenoir-Rhyne 46
Eckerd 77, UNC Pembroke 64

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Armstrong Atlantic State and Eckerd College picked up victories in the final day of the 2003 AASU Men’s Basketball Christmas Classic on Saturday at Alumni Arena. AASU downed Lenoir-Rhyne, 56-48, while Eckerd defeated UNC Pembroke, 77-64.

The homestanding Pirates (9-2) found themselves trailing the Bears (6-4) 23-17 at halftime as Lenoir-Rhyne used its size to out-rebound the Pirates, 26-16, in the first half. After intermission, however, the Pirates scored the first eight points to take the lead and set the stage for a back-and-forth struggle down the stretch. Six ties and five lead changes left the score tied, 44-44, with 4:46 left in the contest. A wide-open three-pointer by senior Daryl Williams put the Pirates back on top, 47-44, with 3:53 left, and the AASU defense didn’t allow a basket by the Bears until Rashad Price’s hit a layup with 12 seconds remaining. LRC went 1-for-9 from the floor in the final four minutes of the contest. Williams led all players with 22 points on 8-of-16 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-3 from three-point range. Senior Tim Black added 14 points and eight rebounds for AASU, while Lenoir-Rhyne was led by Price’s 13 points, Roman Davis’ 12 points and 10 points and 16 rebounds from Ryan Pitts.

In the day’s first game, Eckerd (6-4) outlasted a game UNC Pembroke (1-10) squad for the 13-point victory. On a day in which the normally-sharp three-point shooting of the Tritons was off (3-of-21), it was the inside game of Marcus Bryant that led the way. Bryant hit 9-of-12 shots from the floor and 7-of-11 shots from the free throw line for a game-high 25 points. Sharrod McCree chipped in 12 points for the Tritons, while UNC Pembroke placed three players in double figures, led by Travis Wallace and Damien Goodman, who each scored 17 points apiece.

The Pirates break for the Christmas holidays and returns to action on Saturday, January 3, for an exhibition game against the AASU Alumni.

-Pirates-