AASU SWEEPS PBC OPENERS

Men’s Basketball: AASU 66, No. 21 GCSU 64
Women’s Basketball: AASU 71, GCSU 67

SAVANNAH, Ga. – William Kane’s floater in the lane with four seconds remaining lifted the Armstrong Atlantic State men’s basketball team to a 66-64 victory over No. 21-ranked GCSU in both team’s Peach Belt Conference opener on Wednesday evening in Savannah. The win by the Pirate men capped a doubleheader sweep of the Bobcats as the AASU women notched a come-from-behind victory over the Lady Bobcats, 71-67.Kane’s heroics were needed as the Bobcats (10-2, 0-1 PBC) erased a five-point deficit in the final 24 seconds. Shaun Keaton hit two free throws, then after a Pirate turnover, Keaton buried a three-pointer with 9.6 seconds remaining to tie the score at 66-all. The Pirates called time out, then inbounded the ball to senior Tory Harris – who beat the Bobcats on a last-second shot in last year’s PBC semifinals. Harris drew a double team bringing the ball up the court, so he threw a jump pass to Kane, who dribbled once into the lane and put up the floater to put the Pirates up by two. Shejdie Childs had a last-ditch attempt to win for the Bobcats, but his halfcourt shot missed as time expired, giving the Pirates (10-2, 1-0 PBC) their second win over a nationally-ranked team this season.

Keaton led all scorers with 24 points off the bench for GCSU, while Aaron Clark collected a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds and Aaron Gibbs added 14 points. AASU was led by Bryan Taylor’s 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Jamaal Galloway added 11 points.

In the women’s contest, the Lady Pirates erased a 13-point deficit in the second half and Nicole Hornage’s three-point basket snapped a 66-all tie with 39 seconds remaining to give the Pirates the win. Kaneetha Gordon tallied a career-high 22 points, while Tana Griffiths’ 11 points included three second-half three-pointers to help AASU (7-5, 1-0 PBC) win its PBC opener over the Lady Bobcats (9-3, 0-1 PBC). Marquita Driskell led GCSU with 16 points, while Tiauna Brantley added 10.

AASU returns to action on Saturday, January 6, with a PBC doubleheader against North Georgia at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. GCSU is next in action at Lander on Saturday in PBC action.

Source: Armstrong Atlantic State University Sports Information