FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2-3-07

Men's Basketball: AASU 85. USC Aiken 56

Release Courtesy of USC Aiken Sports Information

AIKEN, S.C. – Armstrong Atlantic State (15-6, 6-4 PBC) used a 10-0 run to turn a 10-point halftime lead into a commanding lead, shooting 73.1 percent in the second half to blowout USC Aiken (8-15, 2-8 PBC) 85-56 in Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball action Saturday night on Homecoming Night in Aiken.

Armstrong Atlantic State’s Jamaal Galloway came off the bench to score a game-high 24 points, hitting 6-of-8 three-point attempts. Galloway tied the all-time three pointers made record at AASU, as the junior hit his 183rd from long-range. USC Aiken freshman Jakub Gadomski scored 13 points to lead the way for the hosts.

AASU jumped to an early 6-0 lead before USC Aiken went on an 8-1 run to take an 8-7 lead. The visiting Pirates then used a 13-1 to take a 10-point lead with 10:54 left in the half. They would not trail the rest of the game.

The two teams played the rest of the first half even, and the Pirates went into the halftime break leading 35-25. Bryan Taylor, an All-PBC performer a year ago, scored eight points and grabbed five rebounds to lead the Pirates in the opening half.

After a sluggish start to the second half for both teams, Galloway erupted from the outside and put the game outside of the Pacers’ reach. The junior knocked down two straight threes to start a 10-0 run as the Pirates pushed their advantage to 49-29.

USC Aiken would get no closer than 15 the rest of the game, and Galloway continued his hot shooting with three more second-half threes as the Pirates closed out the conference win.

It was not just Galloway who hurt the Pacers in the second half, as Armstrong Atlantic State went 19-for-26 from the field for an incredible 73.1 percent. The Pirates finished the game shooting 56.4 percent, including an 8-for-16 effort from long-range.

The Pacers on the other hand, struggled to score against one of the Peach Belt’s best defensive teams. USCA converted on just 18-of-61 field goals, and misfired on 14 of their 15 three-point attempts. Junior Shawn Taylor finally converted on a triple with 1:24 left in the game after the Pacers had missed on their first 11 threes.

Besides Gadomski, junior Darren Pore had 12 points and junior Theo Oates added ten. Gadomski added nine rebounds, but the Pirates held a 42-33 advantage on the glass.

Oates also had a big day off the court, as he was crowned Homecoming King during halftime of the game.

USC Aiken will be in action again on Wednesday, February 7, when they travel to Dahlonega, Ga., to face North Georgia at 7:30 PM. AASU also plays again on Wednesday, as they host Georgia Southwestern at 7:30 PM.

- Pirates -