D2SS: The Weekend (Part 2)

First, it was the ladies. Now the men. Here's a breakdown of the men's basketball conference races in this installment of "D2SS: The Weekend".

Gulf South Conference: Both nationally-ranked division leaders continued to roll towards undefeated regular seasons on their respective sides this week. In West Division action, No. 1 (NABC) Arkansas Tech (24-0, 11-0) stayed unbeaten after getting by Ouachita Baptist 71-61 at home Thursday night. In the GSC East, No. 4 Valdosta State (23-2, 8-0) won its 14th straight game after outlasting West Alabama 85-75. But both teams face serious road tests Saturday, as ATU visits Delta State (18-5, 9-2), while VSU goes to Alabama-Huntsville (17-5, 5-1).

Peach Belt Conference: No. 5 (NABC) Augusta State (23-2, 15-1) moved one step closer to a PBC regular season title with a 85-62 rout of Flagler on the road Wednesday night. Meanwhile, the battle for second place in the East Division got tighter, as Francis Marion (18-6, 10-5) got by Lander 55-51, while USC Aiken (15-8, 10-6) rolled past UNC Pembroke 86-71.

In the West, Georgia College & State University (19-4, 12-2) snapped a two-game skid on the road Wednesday. But the Bobcats needed to hold off a last-ditch from a scrappy Georgia Southwestern State team to escape with a 61-60 win. Meanwhile, Montevallo (19-5, 9-5) blew an early 15-point second half lead, and lost at North Georgia (13-10, 8-5) 76-73. With the regular season sweep of the Falcons, the Saints could very well earn the right to host a first-round PBC tournament game if they win out, as they hold the tiebreaker over UM.

SIAC: Clark-Atlanta (19-4, 16-4) has the upper hand in the regular season race. But there is a tight race for second place and lower brewing as tournament time draws closer. Tuskegee (15-9, 14-7) stands alone in the No. 2 spot, while three teams have eight losses, and two other squads have nine.

The big games

Note: All times local to home team

Lane (14-8, 12-8) at Stillman (13-9, 11-9)--Saturday 2 p.m. CST

Claflin (14-9, 14-8) at Albany State (13-12, 13-9)--Saturday 3 p.m. EST

Augusta State (23-2, 15-1) at Francis Marion (18-6, 10-5)--Saturday 3:30 p.m. EST

Clayton State (14-10, 7-7) at Montevallo (19-5, 9-5)--Saturday 3:30 p.m. CST

Arkansas Tech (24-0, 11-0) at Delta State (18-5, 9-2)--Saturday 6 p.m. CST

Valdosta State (23-2, 8-0) at Alabama-Huntsville (17-5, 5-1)--Saturday 7 p.m. CST