Keep an eye on Paine men

Reviewing and previewing local college basketball:

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Paine College. The Lions are playing their best basketball of the season down the stretch and will enter Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament play next week as one of the top three seeds. This team has potent scorers with guards Daniel Lomax and Nate Lewis and center Chris Jackson. Paine will be a dangerous team to play in the tournament.

Armstrong Athletic State women. When did Savannah, Ga., become the cesspool of college basketball? The Lady Pirates were forced to forfeit 28 games and are banned from next week's Peach Belt Conference Tournament after league officials learned the team was using an ineligible player, Audosha Kelley. Kelley was second in conference scoring with 18.2 points a game. Peach Belt commissioner Marvin Vanover told the Savannah Morning News the mistakes were made by university personnel.

Francis Marion women at Augusta State, 5:30 p.m. Lady Jaguars need help, but are still in position to capture the Peach Belt North Division with a win.

Francis Marion men at Augusta State, 7:30. Jaguars try to keep postseason hopes alive.

Benedict women at Paine, 5:30. Lady Lions go for the season sweep.

Benedict men at Paine, 7:30. Lions will be SIAC runner-up with a victory.

USC Aiken women at Lander, 5:30. Lady Pacers need help, but can still win North Division.

USC Aiken men at Lander, 7:30. The Pacers try to snap a nine-game losing spell.

1. Augusta State (16-10, 9-6 PBC). Jaguars are No. 10 in latest South Atlantic Region poll.

2. Paine (15-11, 13-6 SIAC). In conference games, Lamario Latson is shooting 54 percent from the floor.

3. Aiken Tech (14-12, 10-4 Region 10). Rickey McGhee leads the Knights in assists (87) and steals (59).

4. USC Aiken (6-19, 2-13 PBC). Bad sign when only four Pacers players shake hands after their loss Wednesday to rival Augusta State.

1. Augusta State (14-12, 8-7 PBC). Good sign for the Lady Jags: forward Eva Vodrazkova, recovering from a knee injury, played 33 minutes against USC Aiken.

2. Paine (15-10, 13-4 SIAC). Kendra Williams 21-for-64 from the perimeter in SIAC contests.

3. USC Aiken (18-11, 8-7 PBC). Kasey Mills averaging almost 16 points in conference matchups.

Francis Marion at Augusta State, 5:30 (women) and 7:30 (men), today. The Lady Jaguars can claim their second North Division title in three seasons with a win and a UNC Pembroke loss. Augusta State is seeking its sixth straight victory.

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