Lady Braves coach proving his team has what it takes

Reviewing and previewing local college basketball:

UNC Pembroke women. The Lady Braves have won five consecutive contests and are tied atop the Peach Belt North Division with USC Aiken. First-year coach John Haskins has turned this program around, and he deserves to win coach of the year honors hands down. This Lady Braves team, picked to finish last in the preseason coaches poll, has a tough road contest against Kennesaw State today, but ends the season at home against Francis Marion and USC Upstate. Don't be surprised if UNC Pembroke is a No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.

He's still got it. Former Augusta State guard Kavossy Franklin scored 45 points Sunday to lift the Hunter Pirates to a 140-135 double-overtime win over the Wollongong Hawks to secure a playoff spot in the Australian National Basketball League playoffs. Franklin tossed in a 30-foot buzzer-beater to send the contest to a second overtime period. Remember, Franklin posted a conference- and school-record 49 points in a double-overtime win over North Florida in 1998.

Morehouse. The Tigers have gone 2-5 in the past seven games and have fallen to third in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Their overtime loss to Paine last Saturday wouldn't have happened if they didn't turn the ball over in the waning moments.

Augusta State is honoring its 2003-04 Elite Eight women's team tonight during homecoming. The Lady Jaguars will receive their rings immediately after the women's game, and the school will unveil two banners.

Clayton State women at Augusta State, 5:30 p.m. Lady Jaguars face the top team in the South Division.

Clayton State men at Augusta State, 7:30. Two of the conference's top three defenses collide.

USC Aiken women at North Florida, 2. Lady Pacers face the worst team in the South Division.

USC Aiken men at North Florida, 4. The Ospreys are 4-1 in their past five games.

Paine women at Tuskegee, 5:30. Lady Lions hold a half-game lead over the Tigerettes in the SIAC standings.

Paine men at Tuskegee, 7:30. Lions won by 21 in their earlier meeting.

1. Augusta State (14-10, 7-6 PBC). Jaguars have won three in a row, the past two on the road.

2. Paine (12-11, 10-6 SIAC). If the Lions run the table, and Albany State loses another game, they will win at least a share of the conference crown.

3. Aiken Tech (14-12, 10-4 Region 10). Matthew Todd, averaging 2.6 points a contest scored a season-best 20 points Wednesday night.

4. USC Aiken (6-17, 2-11 PBC). Guard Franchot Brown averaging 6.0 points and 5.0 boards in 17.5 minutes per game.

1. Paine (14-8, 12-2 SIAC). Lady Lions failed to take care of business at Stillman on Thursday, a three-point defeat.

2. USC Aiken (17-10, 7-6 PBC). If the Lady Pacers lose the North Division, they have no one to blame but themselves after dropping three of their past five.

3. Augusta State (12-12, 6-7 PBC). Three games remain: three wins, Lady Jaguars could win the division; three losses, they could finish last.

Fort Valley State at Paine, 5:30 (women), 7:30 (men), Tuesday. The two women's teams are battling for the SIAC's top position, with Fort Valley State trailing by a half-game. The Lady Lions control their own destiny, but have to win this game to have a chance to win the league.

Augusta State at USC Aiken, 5:30 p.m. (women), 7:30 (men), Wednesday. The winner of the women's game will still have a shot at the North Division; the loser, a first-round conference tournament game. In the men's game, the Pacers are seeking their first win over the Jaguars since Feb. 23, 2002.

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