Hurricanes ranked 21st in the country

Hurricanes ranked 21st in the country

By CHRIS WHITAKER
chris.whitaker@gaflnews.com
www.americustimesrecorder.com


AMERICUS — Georgia Southwestern is the hottest team in the Peach Belt Conference.

The Hurricanes are on a 5-game winning streak, including four in a row in conference play.
And on Tuesday, GSW was ranked No. 21 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Division II poll. The Hurricanes received votes last week, but after three double-digit conference wins, they make their first-ever appearance in the poll.

GSW has not won five in a row since the 2006-07 season. After falling 75-72 to USC Aiken in the conference opener, the Hurricanes have won four conference games in a row, tying for the PBC high on the season.

GSW beat Georgia College for the first time last week, 80-65, before dismantling Francis Marion (78-56) and UNC Pembroke (61-39) at home.

The Hurricanes sit on top of the West Division at 4-1, a half-game ahead of Clayton State (12-3, 3-1). Only No. 3 Augusta State has a better conference and overall record than the Hurricanes.

West Liberty (W.V.) and Bellarmine (Ky.) remain the top teams in the poll. Augusta moved up two spots to third after beating King (Tenn.) and Valdosta State.

According to the latest statistics on www.ncaa.com, GSW is 15th in the nation in scoring defense and eighth in scoring margin.

The Hurricanes are first in the PBC in scoring defense, scoring margin and field-goal percentage and second in field-goal percentage defense.

Leading the Hurricanes is two-time Player of the Week Phillip Brown. He leads the conference in rebounding and is fourth in scoring and second in field-goal percentage. Brown has five double-doubles in his last seven games.

GSW puts its streak on the line Wednesday night when it hosts North Georgia at 7:30 p.m.