FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 12-30-05

Men's College Basketball: AASU 81, USC Aiken 67

AIKEN, S.C. – Senior Alex Carter's career-high 32 points led the Armstrong Atlantic State men to an 81-67 win over USC Aiken in Peach Belt Conference action on Friday evening at The Courthouse in Aiken, S.C. It was the Pirates' fourth straight win.

Carter hit 11-of-15 shots from the floor, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, en route to his career-high 32 points. The Miami, Fla., native scored 16 points in each half and his scoring output was the highest for a Pirate player in two seasons - since Daryl Williams scored 33 points in AASU's 68-67 win over Fayetteville State on Nov. 25, 2003.

The Pirates (8-2, 2-1 PBC) opened up a 35-22 halftime lead by holding the Pacers (2-6, 0-2 PBC) to just 26 percent shooting from the floor in the first half. AASU then made sure that USC Aiken couldn't climb back into the contest in the second half, hitting 67 percent of its shots from the floor after intermission.

Bryan Taylor added 15 points for the Pirates, who topped the 80-point barrier for the first time since last season's 80-77 win at USC Aiken on February 5. Chris Brown led the Pacers with 13 points, while Kingsley Oguchi chipped in 12.

AASU returns to action on Wednesday, January 4, as the Pirates host Francis Marion at 7:30 p.m. at Alumni Arena.

-Pirates-