By Leeroy Francis Jr. |
Sports editor
The magical season for the 16th-ranked Augusta University Jaguars continued on Sunday, March 17, with a 93-89 overtime thriller over arch-rival USC Aiken in the second round of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Queens University in Charlotte, N.C.
The second-seed Jaguars played their second overtime game in two days after beating Francis Marion 77-70 in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
The victory extends their win streak to 15 straight dating back to their victory on Feb. 2 over Lander University.
AU (28-5) was down 21 points with 8:21 remaining in the game before a late-game surge forced overtime.
"I have never been a part of anything like this," senior guard Tyvez Monroe afterwards. "This is crazy. I am at a loss for words. It's like a dream come true. I knew we could get buckets, but we needed to get stops. Down 14, I asked the team if it was over, and everybody still believed in what we were doing."
Monroe totaled 21 points (18 in the second half and overtime), draining seven three-pointers (five in the second half) and dishing three assists.
"I've been here before, and I've taken big shots before," Monroe said. "It's really nothing but executing. We just needed stops in order to win."
The freshman backcourt tandem of Tyree Myers and Miguel Arnold each added 16 points, hitting key shots down the stretch in the Jaguars' comeback victory. All five starting Jags scored in double figures for the second straight game.
Senior Deane Williams, who was in foul trouble all night long, had four fouls with 15:23 left in the game. Unfazed, Williams displayed his defensive player of the year honors and managed to play safe and efficient basketball the remaining regulation period while being a defensive force. He redirected two Pacer shots and had one steal in the second half until ultimately fouling out with 13 points and eight rebounds midway through the overtime period.
Augusta junior Rafael Monteiro had 12 points and five assists for AU.
Down 61-45 with 6:42 left in regulation, the Jaguars, who last lead at the 15:38 mark in the first half at 8-6, went on a dominant 39-18 run to cut the Pacer lead to 84-78. Myers, the freshman from Baltimore, Md., made all three free throw line after being fouled on a three-point attempt by USC Aiken's Doniel Dean to cut the Pacer lead to 84-81 with 32 seconds left.
On the ensuing possession, the Pacers turned the ball over leading to a Miguel Arnold three-pointer to tie the game at 84-84 with 27 seconds left in regulation. After a Williams block, the Pacers' Xzavier Barmore missed a jumper as time expired to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, after being down 86-84 early, Augusta outscored USCA 9-3 the remaining 3:20 to cap off one of the most memorable wins in Augusta University basketball history. The victory sends AU into the regional final against host and top-seed Queens University. It was a Monroe jumper that put the Jags ahead for good, and Monteiro sealed the triumph with a layup with 10 seconds to go.
Peach Belt Conference first-team guard Barmore led USC Aiken with 24 points. Like Williams, Pacer guard Ty'lik Evans also fouled out on a night when he had 22 points.
Augusta defeated third-seeded and No. 17 USC Aiken (28-5) for the third time in four outings this season with three of those results finishing in single digits.
"We were in trouble, but these guys never quit," Augusta Head Coach Dip Metress during the post-game press conference "That was a gut-wrenching loss for Aiken, but it was an unbelievable comeback for our team. We were at the park at the end, at the park balling just spread it and go. We don't play that way, but we have the guys who can play the part."
Augusta, in its 12th trip to the NCAA Tournament, played in the regional semifinal game for the ninth time in school history.
In the regional final on Tuesday, the Jaguars will play Queens, who defeated fourth-seeded Catawba 96-93 in the second game Sunday night.
Contact Leeroy Francis at lfrancis@augusta.edu.