FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-22-06

Men's College Basketball: USC Upstate 76, No. 18 AASU 67

Release Courtesy of USC Upstate Sports Information

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Ante Pikunic was the difference Wednesday night for USC Upstate, recording his first career double-double and establishing new career highs for points and rebounds to lead USC Upstate to a 76-67 victory over the 15th-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates in the Hodge Center.

Pikunic finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds to go along with four blocked shots, including a key block with 52 seconds to play in the game, to lead USC Upstate.

USC Upstate improves to 16-9 overall and 11-8 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Spartans host Augusta State Saturday afternoon at 4:00 in the regular season finale. Armstrong Atlantic State falls to 20-6 overall and 14-5 in the league. The Pirates host North Georgia Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in Savannah.

USC Upstate came out hot, even hotter than the conditions inside the Hodge Center, and used a 16-5 run midway through the first half to open a 13-point lead, 31-18. The Spartans used the fuel from the run to take a 40-26 lead at halftime.

USC Upstate maintained a double digit lead for most of the second half until Armstrong Atlantic State put together a late rally. The Spartans held a 61-49 lead with 5:53 to play in the game when Tony Harris, who delivered the game-winning three-point play earlier this year in Savannah, converted a layup. The two points spurred the Pirates to chip away at the USC Upstate lead.

Daniel Quinlan converted a layup to give USC Upstate a 67-58 lead with 2:41 to play, but Armstrong Atlantic State continued to fight, cutting the lead to four on a three-point play by Darly Massamba with 1:26 to play. However, Ivica Grgurovic made five free throws down the stretch and Quinlan added two of his own to keep the Spartans ahead on the scoreboard, sealing the win.

Pikunic was one of five USC Upstate players to finish in double figures. Jay Free led all scorers with 19 points, while Luke Payne added 15. Pikunic and fellow Croatian Grgurovic each finished with 13, while Quinlan added 10.

Jamaal Galloway led Armstrong Atlantic State with 16 points, while Alex Carter had a strong outing with 12 points and eight rebounds. Massamba finished with 11 points and five boards.

-Pirates-