Pirates Outlast Patriots, 77-66, In Overtime

FLORENCE, S.C. - The Armstrong Atlantic State men's basketball squad hit 11-of-12 free throws in overtime to pick up a 77-66 Peach Belt Conference road victory over host Francis Marion on Wednesday evening at the Smith University Center in Florence.

The Pirates (21-5, 14-5 PBC) finished the gameshooting a season-best 87.1 percent (27-of-31) from the free throw line in picking up their third win in a row. Francis Marion (16-10, 9-10 PBC) dropped its third game out of its last four with the loss.

The Patriots led in the final minute of regulation as Houston Power hit a basket with 27 seconds remaining to put Francis Marion up by one, 60-59, then added a free throw with 12 seconds left to go up by two. But junior Dwight Tolbert tied things up with five seconds left with a basket, sending the game into overtime tied at 61-all.

AASU held the Patriots scoreless for the first three minutes of overtime, while hitting 5-of-6 free throws to build a 66-62 lead. After a Crayton Jones free throw for FMU, Keron McKenzie nailed a three-pointer to put the Pirates up by seven, 69-62, with 1:30 left, and AASU hit six-of-six free throws after that point to seal the victory.

Tolbert finished the night with a game-high 24 points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor, including 5-of-7 three-pointers, and 7-of-8 from the free throw line. T.T. Hall added 14 points and four steals, while Brian Moultrie chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds.

Francis Marion was led by Kevin Clark's double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Power finished the night with 16 points.

AASU wraps up the 2008-09 regular season with a 4:00 p.m. Peach Belt contest against Lander on Saturday, February 28, at Alumni Arena.