FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-24-07

Men's Basketball: AASU 72, Columbus State 60

COLUMBUS, Ga. – The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball squad scored the final 14 points of the contest in winning its 20th game of the season with a 72-60 victory over host Columbus State on Saturday afternoon at the Frank G. Lumpkin Jr. Center.

The Pirates (20-7, 11-5 PBC) trailed Columbus State, 60-58, with 4:33 left in the contest, but went inside on its next three possessions. Bryan Taylor converted two layups and two free throws to put the Pirates ahead, 64-60, with 3:01 remaining, then Columbus State (16-11, 9-7 PBC) went 0-for-6 from the floor in the final three minutes, allowing the Pirates to pull away with the victory.

AASU took a 40-31 lead at halftime behind senior Tory Harris' 19 points. Harris hit 7-of-8 shots from the floor, including all five three-point attempts, before intermission as AASU as a team hit 51.9 percent from the floor and 53.3 percent from three-point range. In the second half, however, the Pirates did not make a three-pointer.

Harris led all scorers with 23 points, while senior Bryan Taylor added a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds. Darly Massamba also chipped in 15 points and Patrick Sanou added 12 points. Columbus State was led by Corris Portis' 18 points - with his 15 in the second half coming all in a row for the Cougars - while Travis Matthews and Ron Robinson each chipped in 11 points.

Head coach Jeff Burkhamer becomes the first AASU men's basketball coach to record three 20-win seasons in school history with the victory. AASU will head to the upcoming Peach Belt Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed out of the South Division and face Francis Marion on Friday, March 2, at 5:00 p.m. in Quarterfinal action.

- Pirates -