AU men’s basketball drops close contest against rival USC-Aiken

By Carlos Rodriguez | Sports editor

Rivalries are big in college basketball, especially when both teams are close proximity. Whether it’s Duke and North Carolina, or Kentucky and Louisville, or Indiana and Purdue, rivalry games mean a lot more. 

On the Division II level, a rivalry in the Southeast region is Augusta University and USC-Aiken. Both Peach Belt Conference teams are within a half an hour from each other, creating a cross-town rivalry feel. 

AU men’s basketball team suffered a loss in the first of two matchups this season last night, Jan. 27, at USC-Aiken’s Convocation Center, as the Pacers narrowly defeated the Jaguars 64-63.

“It was a tough loss; we didn’t play well, and we turned the ball over too many times,” said Metress. “You can’t win turning the ball over 25 times.”

Despite many ties and a couple lead changes throughout the game, the Jaguars led the majority of the game. However, a late second-half rally by the Pacers and turnovers by Augusta allowed Aiken to gain the close victory.

Leading AU in scoring was freshman John Whitehead III, who finished with 16 points while shooting 4 of 5 from three-point range. Whitehead played a huge role late in the second half knocking down three three-pointers to score the last nine points for the Jags, keeping them within reach.

“He was able to make some big shots,” said AU coach Dip Metress. “He wasn’t afraid to take a shot which was huge.”

Junior Tyshaun Crawford scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Crawford was able to be aggressive in the paint and flushed down four dunks. Senior Shawn Moss came off the bench and added 12 points. Tyree Myers and Lee Flenor both scored eight points and Flenor grabbed 15 rebounds.

The Pacers were led by Gus Rowland and Donaven Hairston with 15 and 13 points, respectively.

After a slow start from both teams in the first half, Augusta jumped out to a 9-5 lead after Timmy Sellers finished a dunk with 16:03 remaining. Aiken took over the lead after Quincy Canty made a three to go up 14-12.

Crawford connected on an and-one layup to go up 21-18, breaking a tie that had lasted two minutes. Aiken took control of the lead again but a layup before time expired by Lee Flenor sent the game tied at 29 at the half.

In the second half, Sellers found his fellow big, Crawford, who finished a dunk to go up 43-36, giving AU their biggest lead of the game with 13 minutes of play left. The Pacers answered with a 7-0 run to knot the game up at 43. 

With five minutes left, USC-Aiken’s Latreavin Black made a layup to go up 53-52, giving the Pacers their first lead of the half. They jumped out to a six-point lead after Damontez Oliver connected on a three to go up 60-54 with less than three minutes remaining.

Whitehead III responded with a three of his own from the wing, cutting the lead to 60-57. On Aiken’s next possession, Hairston inished a layup to put the Pacers up five. Once again, Whitehead III responded, drilling another three from the same spot as Augusta trailed 62-60 with 1:49 left.

The game remained scoreless for a minute and a half and AU was forced to foul USCA. Rowland knocked down two free throws to go up 64-60 with 17 seconds remaining. Once more, Whitehead III drained another three-pointer, this time from the corner, cutting the lead to 64-63 with 9.3 seconds left. 

Augusta sent Aiken to the line again and the Pacers missed, allowing the Jags to potentially become victorious but a turnover made the chances of winning even slimmer. AU was forced once again to foul with 0.7 seconds left on the clock and after another miss at the charity stripe by the Pacers, AU had only 0.4 seconds left to score but was unsuccessful after a full court pass attempt.

“We got to keep getting better with the weaknesses we have, which was turnovers and we got a little outsourced defensively,” said Metress. 

With only eight active players, Metress mentioned the challenge lately for practice. 

“Practice is tough because you have to weigh their fatigue versus getting better and working guys out,” he said.

Next up Augusta (5-3, 3-3) will play at North Georgia (1-5, 1-5) on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 3:30 p.m. The Jaguars return to the home court Wednesday, Feb. 3, against Francis Marion (3-4, 3-4) with the time still being determined.

(Note: Sports writer Justin Brosemer also  contributed to this story.)

Contact Carlos Rodriguez at carlosjr521@gmail.com.