Conference (Tournament) Calls--Day 2 In Review

So much to talk about, so little time. Let's get started.

Gulf South Conference Women's Quarterfinals (at Southaven, Miss.): The higher seeded teams all held serve in Thursday's all-ladies session. But the first two games were close until the end, as GSC East top seed West Georgia held off West No. 4 seed Ouachita Baptist, 67-64, while East No. 2 seed Valdosta State broke a close game open down the stretch against West No. 3 seed Arkansas Tech, and set the Golden Suns 56-47.

The other two games weren't as close, as West No. 2 seed Arkansas-Monticello eased past East No. 3 seed North Alabama 84-69, while West top seed Delta State had no trouble rolling past West No. 5 seed Harding 79-53.

SIAC (at Birmingham, Ala.): In the men's bracket, top seeded Claflin managed to move on, but not without a struggle against Miles, as the Panthers pulled out a 70-65 win Thursday. In fact, that contest was one of four games decided by five points or less. No. 6 seed Clark Atlanta rallied in the second half to defeat and eliminate No. 11 Morehouse 50-49. No. 10 seed Kentucky State pulled off the upset of the SIAC tournament so far, as No. 7 seed Albany State found itself on the wrong end of March Madness after the Golden Rams season ended with a 64-59 loss. And No. 5 seed Fort Valley State held off a scrappy No. 13 seed in Paine, as the Wildcats pulled out a 79-75 win.

On the women's side, No. 1 seed Fort Valley State carried over its winning ways from the regular season to the postseason, as the Wildcats downed ninth-seeded LeMoyne-Owen 80-60 to advance to Saturday's semifinal round against Tuskegee. The fifth-seeded Tigerettes punched their ticket to the semis after knocking off No. 4 seed Claflin, 58-54.

Peach Belt Conference Women's Quarterfinals: Except for one game, all of the higher seeded teams advanced to semifinal action with wins Thursday. Top seeded Francis Marion surprised very few observers in moving to Saturday's semifinal round with a convincing 80-61 win over No. 9 seed North Georgia. No. 5 Lander had just as easy a time in downing No. 4 seed Armstrong Atlantic State 83-63. In the night session, No. 2 seed Clayton State rallied from an early 10-point first half deficit to defeat No. 7 seed Columbus State 55-52, while third seed and host USC Aiken pulled away from No. 6 seed Georgia College & State University to claim a 62-48 win.