By Leeroy Francis Jr. |Sports editor
The Augusta University men's basketball team won at Georgia Southwestern 76-67 on Saturday, Jan. 25, in a Peach Belt Conference game in Americus, Ga.Earlier, the AU women's basketball team notched a 65-56 victory over GSW.In the men's clash, AU junior Rafael Montiero scored a game-high 25 points, adding eight rebounds, one assist and a steal for the Jaguars, while freshman Miguel Arnold also scored 14 points and had two assists. AU senior Deane Williams totaled 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocks in the victory.In the second half, the Jaguars (9-2 PBC, 13-4 overall) fought hard to maintain their 37-31 first-half lead, but the Hurricanes (0-11, 2-15) found a way to score against the PBC's best defense, relying on their three-point shooting to bring them back into the game.With GSW only down one with 4:22 left, the Jaguars played their best defense of the game. AU allowed the Canes only four more points the remainder of the contest to pull away with shots in the paint.In the women's game, Augusta senior Brianna Middleton played 37 minutes, scoring 16 points and adding 10 rebounds and two steals for her sixth double-double of the season. AU senior Kaela Patrick added 11 points off the bench, including a perfect 3-for-3 from the free throw line and Jags' junior Cameryn Wilson almost recorded a double-double of her own, scoring 10 points on 5-for-9 shooting and grabbing nine rebounds.Down five early in the third quarter, the visiting Jaguars (3-8, 4-13) would go on their biggest run of the game, outscoring the Canes 21-10 in the to regain the lead and head to the final quarter ahead 48-42.Up by as much as 13 in the fourth, the Jaguars cruised in the final frame, outscoring the Canes 17-14 in the fourth to take home their second victory in three games on the road.Jamesha Samuel and Tamecia Blue each scored 11 points to lead Georgia Southwestern (5-6, 8-9).Contact Leeroy Francis at lfrancis@augusta.edu