FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-30-04

Men's College Basketball: AASU 82, Wingate 74

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men’s basketball team shot 62 percent in the first half, jumping out to a 10-point halftime lead and cruising to an 84-72 win over visiting Wingate on Thursday evening at Alumni Arena.

The Pirates (8-3) won their fourth game in a row thanks to another outstanding night from senior Lorenzo Lawrence, who recorded a game-high 27 points, and sophomore Bryan Taylor, who notched his sixth double-double of the season with 17 points and 12 rebounds, to go along with a career-high six blocked shots.

AASU extended its first-half advantage to 24 points in the second half, 84-60, with 1:40 remaining in the contest, but the Bulldogs scored the last 12 points of the game to make the final margin 12 points. Anthony McKinnon scored 18 points for the Bulldogs (3-7), as did Justin Baker, who was making his season debut for Wingate.

The win was the first for the Pirates in six tries against the Bulldogs. AASU hit 52.5 percent from the floor in the contest while holding the Bulldogs to just 40 percent from the floor and outrebounded its second straight opponent, grabbing 44 rebounds to Wingate’s 31. Wingate, who came into the contest averaging 81 points per game, recorded its second-lowest scoring output of the season in the game.

AASU opens up Peach Belt Conference play on Wednesday, January 5, as they host GC&SU at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Arena.

-Pirates-