No. 20 Pirates Climb Back Into PBC Race With 68-60 Win At No. 14 GCSU

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. - The No. 20-ranked Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball team shot 58.3 percent from the floor in the second half to pull away and pick up a 68-60 Peach Belt Conference victory over host and No. 14-ranked Georgia College & State University on Wednesday evening in Milledgeville, Ga.

For the Pirates (18-4, 11-4 PBC), it was their first road win over a nationally-ranked team in more than five years, since AASU defeated then-No. 24 Kennesaw State, 63-57, on March 1, 2003. The Bobcats (17-3, 11-3 PBC) saw their eight game win streak come to a close.

AASU led at halftime by one, 27-26, and scored the first 10 points of the second half to build an 11-point lead, 37-26, with 16:49 remaining. The Bobcats climbed back into the game in the final six minutes, hitting three straight three-pointers to cut the lead to two, 56-54, with 3:30 remaining. But Uriah Hethington scored two straight baskets to stretch the lead back out to six, and the Pirates hit eight of 10 free throws in the final minute to seal the victory. AASU hit 14-of-24 shots from the floor after the break.

The Pirates placed four players in double figures, led by Dwight Tolbert's 19 points and Calvin Wilson's double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds. Brian Moultrie added 12 points and Hethington contributed 11 points off the bench.

Shaun Keaton was the only GCSU player to reach double figures, collecting 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-8 three-pointers.

The Pirates improved to 1-3 this season against nationally-ranked clubs, and will host another one on Saturday when AASU takes on No. 9 Augusta State in Savannah at 4:00 p.m.