AASU athletics face off in array of tournaments

AASU senior guard Patrick Shokpeka has been named to the All-Peach Belt Conference (PBC) men's basketball team, released at the league's annual banquet prior to the PBC Tournament Final Four in Aiken, S.C.

Shokpeka averaged 15.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game for the Pirates in 2009-10, ranking fourth in the PBC in scoring and tied for sixth in rebounding. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native also ranked seventh in the league in steals, averaging 1.68 per contest.

He led the Pirates in points scored with 441 and in rebounds with 202. Shokpeka was elected to the third team in a vote of the league's coaches.

AASU has had at least one All-Conference performer in men's basketball since the 2001-02 season. Shokpeka and the Pirates won seven of their last nine games to qualify for the 2010 PBC Tournament and finished the season as the No. 4 seed out of the PBC East Division.

For a complete list of the 2009-10 PBC Men's Basketball All-Conference team, visit http://www.peachbelt.com/sports/mbkb/2009-10/news/20100305mbballconf.

In the PBC Tournament's game action, Pirate senior Keron McKenzie hit 10-of-15 3-pointers for a career-high 34 points, but the AASU men's basketball squad came up short in its upset bid of top-ranked Augusta State (ASU) on March 3, falling 83-80 to the Jaguars in the first round of the 2010 PBC Tournament at the Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta, Ga.

The Pirates (12-16) were just the second team all year to score 80+ points against ASU (26-2) and the first to do so on the Jaguars' home floor. AASU came out on fire and stayed hot throughout the game.

AASU took a 41-39 lead into halftime on a McKenzie 3-pointer with 29 seconds until intermission, then after relinquishing that lead in the opening moments of the second half, went back out front on a layup by McKenzie with 15:17 left in the second half, 50-49. A David Pruett 3-pointer built the largest lead of the game for the Pirates, 60-54, with 11:43 remaining.

After a timeout by the Pirates, ASU went on a 11-0 run over the next three minutes, building a 65-60 lead with 8:34 remaining. The Pirates responded with 15-5 run over the next four minutes, capped by another McKenzie three to put AASU up, 75-70, with 4:22 left.

ASU chipped away at the lead, finally tying things up on a pair of Ben Madgen free throws with 1:53 left. The Jaguars would then make five of six free throws over the next minute and a half to build a five-point lead with 12 seconds left.

McKenzie's final 3-pointer of the night — a heave from nearly 30 feet — cut the lead to two, 82-80, with eight seconds left. Alex Smith made one of two free throws and AASU's last chance gasp, a running three from Gabriel Robinson, hit the front of the rim and bounced away, allowing the Jaguars to escape with the victory.

The Pirates made a season-high 13 3-pointers and shot 53.7 percent overall from the floor, while ASU shot 52.8 percent from the floor. The Jaguars dominated on the glass, out-rebounding the Pirates 35-22, while enjoying a 23-9 edge in free throws made.

McKenzie's 34 points eclipses his career high of 27, set on Nov. 17 at St. Augustine's, and his 34 points are the most for an AASU player since Jock Page recorded 37 points at USC Upstate on Feb. 5, 1994. The 10 3-pointers made are the most for an AASU player in a single game this decade.

Shokpeka added 20 points as well for the Pirates, while the Jaguars placed five players in double figures, led by Madgen's 19 points and 17 points apiece from Smith and Fred Brathwaite.

Head coach Jeremy Luther's squad loses four seniors from this season's team — McKenzie, Shokpeka, Robinson and Marquise Duvall.

March 11: Baseball vs. West Liberty State 6 p.m.

March 13: Women's Tennis vs. Barry 10 a.m. at Las Vegas, Nev.

Softball vs. Lenoir-Rhyne 11 a.m. at Florence, S.C.

Softball vs. St. Andrews 1 p.m. at Florence, S.C.

Baseball vs. Francis Marion 2 p.m.

Softball vs. Queens (N.C.) 5 p.m. at Florence, S.C.

March 14: Men's Golf at VSU Blazer Invitational at Valdosta, Ga.

Baseball vs. Francis Marion 11 a.m.

Softball vs. St. Leo 11 a.m. at Florence, S.C.

Softball vs. Alderson-Broaddus 1 p.m. at Florence, S.C.

Baseball vs. Francis Marion 2 p.m.

March 15: Men's Golf at VSU Blazer Invitational at Valdosta, Ga.

Women's Tennis vs. Hawaii Pacific 3 p.m. at Las Vegas, Nev.

March 16: Men's Golf at VSU Blazer Invitational at Valdosta, Ga.

Men's Tennis vs. Hawaii Pacific 9 a.m. at Las Vegas, Nev.

Women's Tennis vs. Fresno Pacific 9:30 a.m. Las Vegas, Nev.

Men's Tennis vs. St. Edward's 1 p.m. at Las Vegas, Nev.

Softball vs. North Georgia 2 p.m.

Softball vs. North Georgia 4 p.m.

March 17: Women's Tennis vs. St. Edward's 9:30 a.m. at Las Vegas, Nev.

Men's Tennis vs. Fresno Pacific 1 p.m. at Las Vegas, Nev.

March 19: Baseball at Lander 4 p.m.

March 20: Baseball at Lander 2 p.m.

Baseball at Lander 5 p.m.

1.) During the 2009 season the AASU baseball team went on a 18-game winning streak from March 2-24.

2.) John Roberts leads the team with 23 RBI so far this season. The next closest to Roberts are Chris Zittrouer and Michael Price, who are tied at 16.

3.) Bryan Roby is 1-0 and has one save to go with his 2.96 ERA in 24 and 1/3 innings pitched.

4.) Alex Wyche has 22 steals on 25 attempts and currently leads the PBC in both categories.

5.) Thomas Gray leads the team and the conference in innings pitched with 34 and 2/3 innings worth of work.

1.) What was the longest winning streak the Pirate baseball team had last season?

2.) Who leads the AASU baseball squad in the RBI category?

3.) Which AASU pitcher is the only pitcher on the roster to have a save and a win so far this season?