By Leeroy Francis |Staff writerAugusta University men’s basketball team fell to Columbus State University 66-60 on Saturday, Jan. 6, in their first home game of the new year. The AU women's team also fell to Columbus State 77-72, in overtime, to start their calendar year as well. Their game was the first of the afternoon doubleheader. In the men’s contest, the opening half at Christenberry Fieldhouse was fairly even. AU and Columbus State exchanged the lead three times in the opening 20 minutes. In the first half, the leading scorers for Augusta were Tamyrik Fields and Mikkel Kolstad, who each had eight points to keep the deficit close going into halftime.Trailing 35-32 at halftime, the Jags showed some promise to turn the game around in the second half, but inefficient three-point shooting (3 of 14 for the game) and some crucial misses at the foul line hurt their chances down the stretch. In the second half, the Jags were 4 of 10 from the free throw line and 0 of 4 from the three-point line, while Columbus State took advantage, going 9 of 11 from the line in the second half with eight total three-pointers for the game. Columbus State found a way to pull away late and take the victory.In total, AU was only 7 of 17 from the line for the game.“We gave them too many opportunities; we handed them opportunities,” said AU coach Dip Metress, who had won his 300th victory at the university before the winter break. “We were a step slow, and we were bad yesterday in practice, so it continued today and hopefully, we learn from that. You don’t win missing 10 free throws either.”One bright spot in the game was a big block by Augusta University Junior Andrew Parker that added a spark to the team heading into the half, but unfortunately, this was not enough to squeak out the victory.“We didn’t play bad,” Parker said. “I think we just relaxed a little bit. My role is to just bring energy to the team, and that’s what I feel I did.”Fields led AU with 20 points, and Deane Williams added 12 points and five rebounds. Metress also praised the play of guard Dereck Oliver, who came off the bench and sparked the defense during a key 14-0 run the Jags made in the second half to make the game close. CSU’s biggest lead was 14 with 12:35 left to play.
Kolstad, the Jags’ playmaker, struggled with cramps throughout the game.The Jaguars’ next game is against UNC Pembroke on Jan. 10 in North Carolina. Sitting 4-2 in the Peach Belt Conference and 7-5 overall, the Jaguars will look to get back in the winner’s column. With its win, Columbus State improved to 3-3 in the league and 3-6 overall.In the women’s game, the Jaguars just couldn’t grab the lead during the course of the first 30 minutes of the game. Joshlyn Belcher, a senior, led the way with six points in the first half. Belcher went 2-of-2 from the three-point line in the first half to provide a spark off the bench and kept the halftime deficit close.Columbus led by three at halftime, and the Jaguars were within striking distance in the second half. They finally took the lead late 64-63 with 1:39 left in regulation on a free throw by Cynara Pitt. Columbus State and Augusta traded free throws late in the game, and they were tied at 66 going into overtime.In overtime, Columbus State pulled away with clutch free throws late to get the victory. The Jags’ leading scorer was Belcher with 16 points, making four three-pointers and going 4-for-4 from the free throw line.“We played our hearts out; we should play this way every single game,” Belcher said. “There is always next game we just got to be ready for it.”Belcher led the way with 16 points. AU Senior Jahmia Bradley added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Senior Ashleigh Outler also played well with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.The Jag women’s next game also is at UNC Pembroke on Jan. 10. The AU women are now 3-7 overall and 1-5 in the conference.Contact Leeroy Francis at lfrancis@augusta.edu
