AASU Men's Hoops Notches Season Opening Win

Article courtesy of Armstrong Atlantic State University Sports Information

Pirates Win Men's Basketball Opener, 77-58 Over Queens (NC)

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Senior guard T.T. Hall led the way with 19 points as the Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team picked up a 77-58 season-opening win over visiting Queens (N.C.) on Monday evening at Alumni Arena.

For head coach Jeff Burkhamer and the Pirates (1-0), it was a sixth straight opening-season win, with three of those six wins coming against the visiting Royals (0-1). Both teams came into the matchup returning just four players from 2007-08, and the Pirates had the upper hand early in the contest.

AASU jumped out to a quick 13-3 lead in the first five minutes, thanks to defensive pressure that forced six Queens turnovers in those five minutes and 16 overall in the first half. The Pirates finished the half with 10 steals and took a 38-24 lead into halftime.

The Royals came out after the intermission and scored the first seven points, eventually cutting the AASU lead to six, 40-34, with 15:36 remaining. The Pirates answered back quickly as T.T. Hall and Keron McKenzie drained back-to-back three pointers, pushing the lead back to double digits, where it stayed for the rest of the night.

Hall finished the night 6-of-19 from the foor, including 3-of-12 three-pointers, for his game-high 19 points but also added six rebounds and four steals. Senior Uriah Hethington came off the bench to record 14 points and nine rebounds on 7-of-12 shooting from the floor, while senior Brian Moultrie added 11 points and six rebounds. Junior point guard Gabriel Robinson dished out nine assists as well.

Queens was led by Devin Seaford's 13 points and J.B. Baldwin's 11 points. Preston Newlin hit three three-pointers in the first half for nine points, but crashed to the floor hard with 13 minutes left in the first half and did not return to the game.

AASU shot 38.2 percent from the floor in the contest, hitting 26-of-68 shots, while Queens hit just 16-of-55 shots from the floor for 29.1 percent.

The Pirates held a 49-39 rebounding edge and finished the night with 12 steals.The Pirates return to action on Friday, November 28, with a 6:00 p.m. contest against Lock Haven in the Charleston (W. Va.) Invitational.