Armstrong Men’s Hoops Team Beats Concordia Selma

2008 AASU/Chatham Orthopedics Holiday Basketball Classic Day One Wrapup

SAVANNAH, Ga. - Day one of the 2008 AASU/Chatham Orthopedics Basketball Classic wrapped up with the host Armstrong Atlantic State men’s basketball squad picking up an 83-64 victory over Concordia Selma on Saturday evening at Alumni Arena.

In the other action, the No. 25 Wingate women picked up a 73-61 win over Armstrong Atlantic; St. Augustine’s men notched a 59-49 win over Lenoir-Rhyne; and Columbus State’s women collected a 63-57 win over Valdosta State.

The Pirates (5-1) survived 27 turnovers - the most by an AASU squad in the Jeff Burkhamer era - in notching their 19-point victory over the Hornets (4-11), who were playing their fifth game in the last eight days. Junior Dwight Tolbert enjoyed a sparkling night, hitting 7-of-13 shots from the floor - including 6-of-12 three-pointers - en route to a game-high 24 points. T.T. Hall chipped in 21 points and Brian Moultrie recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Hornets were led by John Nixon’s 13 points and Curtis Cowan’s 10 points. Concordia Selma shot just 30 percent from the floor, including just 16 percent from three-point range. The Pirates shot 41 free throws on the night and blocked eight shots.

In the women’s contest, No. 25-ranked Wingate (6-2) scored the first 14 points of the contest, built a 42-19 halftime lead and held on for a 73-61 win over Armstrong Atlantic (6-2). The Bulldogs shot 51.6 percent in the first half as the Pirates made just six field goals before intermission. In the second half, AASU slowly chipped away at the large lead, but could only come within 10 points.

Anna Atkinson led all players with 19 points and seven assists for Wingate, while CC Brooks chipped in 12 points off the bench and Jessy Keitt collected 10. Armstrong Atlantic was led by junior Dartayvia Thomas’ career-high 18 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 1-of-2 three-pointers, to go with eight rebounds. Lacey Willis chipped in 15 points and Portia Jones, in her first start of the year, added 13 points.

In the first game of the day, Columbus State (7-2) outlasted Valdosta State (7-2) in women’s action, 63-57. The Cougars had a double-digit lead in the first half, but the Blazers fought back in the second half, closing to within three with 3:58 remaining. CSU’s Phebe Smith converted a three-point play with 2:12 left, edging the lead back out to six, 58-52, and VSU would be unable to trim the lead to a single possession the rest of the way. Smith finished the contest with a double-double, leading the Cougars with 20 points to go with 11 rebounds. Rosetta Hollis also collected a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds for CSU, while Valdosta State was led by Sczeny Hartry’s 15 points.\par

The first men’s game saw St. Augustine’s pick up a 59-49 win over Lenoir-Rhyne, thanks to a tough defensive effort. The Falcons (5-4) held Lenoir-Rhyne to just 30 percent shooting from the field, including just 18.8 percent from three-point range, in knocking off the Bears. Shaun Washum was outstanding from the field, hitting 8-of-9 shots from the floor for a team-high 16 points for St. Augustine’s, while Chris Jordan chipped in 11 points. Elliott McDowell led all scorers for Lenoir-Rhyne with 17 points, while D.J. Blackmon chipped in 10 points.

The 2008 AASU/Chatham Orthopedics Holiday Classic wraps up with four games on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. with Columbus State and Wingate matching up in women’s action. St. Augustine’s and Concordia Selma meet in men’s action at 3 p.m., with AASU’s women facing Valdosta State at 6 p.m. and the AASU men meeting Lenoir-Rhyne at 8:00 p.m.