Columbus State senior puts up 47; team loses

Reviewing and previewing local college basketball:

Yandel Brown. The Columbus State senior posted 47 points (17-for-35 shooting) against West Alabama - and the Cougars still lost, 103-101. Brown has scored 35 or more in three of four games and leads the Peach Belt Conference with a 33.5 scoring average.

Lander women. The defending conference champions are off to a 2-5 start because of poor shooting. The Lady Bearcats are converting 34 percent of their shots with all-conference guards Natasha Hemphill and Tracy Jacobs are a combined 57-for-172.

Goodbye, Kennesaw State. The Marietta, Ga. school, with an enrollment of 18,000, announced its intentions this week to leap to NCAA Division I - joining fellow lame duck Peach Belt member North Florida (14,100 enrollment). As of now, the Peach Belt Conference will begin the 2005-06 season with 10 schools.

RANKING THE MEN'S TEAMS

1. Augusta State (3-2). Jaguars leading the Peach Belt in scoring defense, allowing 60.6 points per game.

2. USC Aiken (3-3). Pacers have lost three consecutive and are struggling to score (67.6 points).

3. Paine (0-3, 0-2 SIAC). Lions have plenty to straighten out on offense and defense.

1. USC Aiken (8-2). The Lady Pacers await a national ranking Tuesday, but need to play well at Division I Furman today.

2. Augusta State (4-2). Sophomore forward Shirrell Ford a pleasant surprise, averaging 13.2 points and 9.0 rebounds.

3. Paine (1-2, 1-0 SIAC). Freshman guard Chantel Murray scored 10 with seven steals in the Lady Lions' win at Lane.

PAINE VS. AUGUSTA STATE AT CHRISTENBERRY FIELDHOUSE, 5:30 (WOMEN) AND 7:30 (MEN). The City Classic comes early this year, and both schools are still trying to figure thier teams out.

"I think we're better than 3-3. It doesn't take a mathematician to figure out we're not," USC Aiken coach Mike Roberts said.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.