AU men’s PBC Tournament dashed by Flagler College, 81-70
Justin Gray | Sports editor
AIKEN, S.C.—The Augusta University men’s basketball team’s Peach Belt Conference Tournament hopes ended abruptly as they fell in the first round of the Peach Belt Conference tournament, 81-70, on Wednesday, March 6.
A day full of upsets in the tournament had the fifth-seeded Jaguars feeling good about their chances of upsetting fourth-seeded Flagler. And top-seeded USC Aiken had already been eliminated by Georgia College, so suddenly an avenue to another PBC Tournament crown was right there for the taking for the Jags.
Augusta started out hot in the quarterfinal contest, going up 9-4 with five early points from John St. Germain III.
With the Jaguars leading the game 16-10, Flagler went on a 10-0 run to take control of the half. Before Augusta knew it, the Jaguars were down 38-29.
The Jags went on a 7-0 run to close the half, feeling like they were still in good shape going into the break.
After halftime, things got tight and the Jaguars took their first lead of the half at 56-55. The Jaguar faithful made the Aiken Convocation Center feel like Christenberry Fieldhouse.
However, Flagler was unfazed, as from that point on, AU was outscored 26-14 as the Jags fell for just the third time in 11 games.
The most glaring problem of this game was senior forward Ja’Queze Kirby’s foul trouble. The Jaguars’ second leading scorer played just 13 minutes, didn’t score a point and only totaled one rebound. He got three quick fouls in the first half and eventually fouled out.
“Obviously, Kirby getting in foul trouble hurt us,” said Coach Dip Metress. “We are a good team with him on the floor. Disappointed in us; disappointed we barely got to the free throw line in the second half.”
The Jaguars were paced by all-conference selection Demitri Gardner, who scored 19 points on 8-15 shooting from the field. He added five rebounds.
“In the final four-minute stretch is when we started to discombobulate,” said the guard from Winchester, Va. “Runs come and go. We have to be able to come together in those times.”
The freshman standout St. Germain stacked up 16 points and eight assists; he has stepped up this season at the point guard position.
In what was likely his final game, David Viti totaled 15 points and six rebounds. He knocked down two big 3-pointers in the contest.
“We knew they’d come out and run in transition,” said the product from Buford. “They were able to play their game, and they were the better team. We didn’t play good enough transition defense.”
Flagler was led by Jax Bouknight with a game-high 20 points. Jalen Barr followed that with 18 of his own.
The Jaguars wrapped things up with a 17-12 record.
With AU sitting at ninth in the Southeast Regional rankings before Wednesday night’s quarterfinal loss, it is very unlikely that the Jaguars will get a bid into the NCAA tournament.
This team accomplished some great things this season and there is no doubt the Jaguars will be back. Now Metress and his assistant coach will hit the recruiting trail to replace Viti and Timmy Sellers, as well as Chris Britt, who left the team just before the start of the season.
Contact Justin Gray at jusgray@augusta.edu.
AU’s Demitri Gardner closed (2) out an all-conference campaign with a team-high 19 points in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament quarterfinal loss to Flagler. At the top of the page, David Viti (7) flushes a dunk; Viti scored 15 points in his AU finale. (photos by Paule Toole, AU Athletics)
