MUST SEE GAMES--01/25/2006

NOTE: Click on the link (s) of the highlighted schools to listen to live audio, or to view live stats.

TOP WOMEN'S GAME

Francis Marion (7-8, 5-4) at USC Upstate (9-7, 6-3)--Wednesday 5:30 p.m. EST

With newcomer North Georgia (14-3, 10-0) steadily separating itself from the rest of the Peach Belt Conference pack, and second place Clayton State (13-3, 7-2) currently having the inside track on the top seed for the conference tournament (The Lady Saints are ineligible for postseason play due to their first-year provisional status at the NCAA Division II level), this game will have implications as far as who could be seeded second. Both teams came off tough losses Monday, as the Lady Spartans lost a heartbeaker to visiting Columbus State 56-53, while the Patriots fell to the North Georgia women 69-58.

TOP MEN'S GAME

Armstrong Atlantic State (13-3, 7-2) at Clayton State (13-3, 6-3)--Wednesday 7:30 p.m. EST
GC&SU (11-4, 8-1) at Columbus State (13-4, 7-1)--Wednesday 7:30 p.m. EST

It's "Showdown Wednesday" in the Peach Belt Conference, as four of the league's top five teams square off in a pair of key conference showdowns. The Pirates saw a nine-game winning streak snapped with a 64-58 upset loss to Augusta State at home Monday night. Head Coach Jeff Burkhamer and his charges must re-group quickly, and hit the road to face a Lakers team that held off a scrappy Lander squad on the road, 64-61.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats took advantage of AASU's misfortune with a 77-63 victory over USC Aiken. That victory gave the GC&SU men sole possession of first place in the PBC, at least for now. That's because the Bobcats must travel to Columbus, Ga. to face a Cougars squad that has won seven straight games, the latest a 94-89 triumph at USC Upstate Monday night. The win was the 500th career coaching victory for veteran CSU head coach Herbert Greene, who also earned 400th career win at Upstate, which was then USC Spartanburg.