Crawford, Arnold’s second-half performances push Augusta past Columbus State
By Carlos Rodriguez | Sports editor
Thirty-one combined second-half points from center Tyshaun Crawford and guard Miguel Arnold led the Augusta University men’s basketball team to an 83-65 victory over Columbus State on Monday, Dec. 12, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
Crawford led the 13th-ranked Jaguars (2-0, 8-1) with 27 points, while grabbing nine rebounds in a Peach Belt Conference contest. He scored 17 of his 27 points in the second half. Arnold scored 14 of his 16 points in the half as the pair combined for 31 of AU’s 45 second half points, outscoring Columbus State’s 29-point half performance.
“Our guys really stepped up in the second half on the defensive end,” said AU assistant coach Zach Tinkham. “We held them to 33.3 percent in the second half. It started with our on-ball defense. Tyree (Myers) set the tempo by picking up the ball and putting pressure on the point guard. Our bigs communicated all night on ball screens and were able to help on drives at the rim. Most importantly we finished possessions by rebounding the ball.
Guard Darren Lucas-White also scored 16 points for Augusta and achieved a double-double, pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds.
“Ty, Miguel and Darren are such selfless players that they make each other better,” said Tinkham. “Each one of them knows when to pick their spots to attack and when to set up their teammates. They seemed in rhythm tonight and their shooting was contagious. It felt like all their shots were going to go in.”
Augusta shot 56 from the field, with Crawford leading the way with a 10-for-13 night, and that trio got help from Myers, who also had double figures for the Jaguars with 10 points.
“We had great ball movement which caused our shooting percentage to be so high,” Tinkham said. “We talk all the time about the importance of moving the ball side to side. Moving the ball side to side shifts the defense and makes it easier to throw into Tyshaun. Once they had to help on Tyshaun, it made Miguel open which got him going.”
Columbus State’s Demierre Black led his team with 15 points. AU did a solid job of holding the reigning Peach Belt Conference player of the week Nelson Haskin to only eight points.
Myers and Lucas-White quickly knocked down jumpers to start the game making a 3-pointer and deep mid-range jumper, respectively, to go up 5-0 early.
The Cougars kept inching closer and closer to the Jags, but for most of the buckets they poured in, Augusta had an answer.
After several tries to tie the game, Columbus State’s Grant Howard knotted the game up at 27 after a 3-point make with 6:09 remaining. During the next possession, Kalen Clifton scored on a layup to give the Cougars their first lead of the game.
AU’s Ja’Queze Kirby made a 3-pointer to put the Jags up again 31-29. The Cougars reclaimed the lead once again before the half closed, but a corner fadeaway by Lucas-White helped the Jags head into the break ahead, 38-36.
Lucas-White and Crawford were in double figures with 13 and 10 points, respectively.
After only scoring two points in the first half, Arnold came out the locker room hot. In the opening minute he knocked down a mid-range jumper and a 3-pointer to increase the Jags lead to 43-36.
Columbus State was able to cut the lead to one after free throw makes from Howard, but shortly after AU would go back on a run to expand their lead.
During a stretch in the middle of the half, Arnold scored three-straight baskets to increase their lead to 59-47.
At the 6:10 mark, Crawford gave AU a 20-point lead after grabbing the offensive board and going back up for two points. Three minutes later he dished out a pass to Myers on the 3-point line, who knocked down the jumper to put the Jags up 82-57, a 25-point lead and their biggest of the game.
The Cougars (0-1, 7-3) put up a few more points on the board while AU made a free throw to close out the game 83-65.
Augusta completely dominated the glass in this battle, outrebounding Columbus State 43-18.
“It was a team effort on the boards tonight,” said Tinkham. “Darren had 12 rebounds, which was huge. Tyshaun and Kirby always do great on the boards, but we have the capability of dominating the boards when our guards chip in as well. Darren with 12 and Miguel with 6 was a huge boost for us. We had an aggressive mentality all night.”
The free throw line played a vital role for the Jaguars as well, making 16 shots from the line off 21 attempts, while the Cougars only shot and made three attempts at the line.
In the women’s contest, Kennedi Manning totaled 20 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocked shots to lead AU to a 48-47 win over the Cougars. Tomiyah Alford added 15 points and 5 rebounds for AU (1-1, 7-2).
Alford hit two free throws with two seconds to play to give Augusta the victory, and then Mone Florence sealed the victory with a steal on CSU’s last possession.
Letiya Reeves led Columbus State (0-1, 5-3) with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Emilia Tenbrock added 12 points.
The Augusta men will host Reinhardt University on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 3 p.m. The women host Newberry that same day with a 1 p.m. tipoff.
Contact Carlos Rodriguez at carrodriguez@augusta.edu.
Tomiyah Alford goes up for two of her 15 points in AU’s 48-47 win over Columbus State. (photo by Madison Keel) At the top of the page, Tyshaun Crawford had a 10-of-13 shooting night to lead the Jaguar men over the Cougars and a 2-0 start in the Peach Belt Conference. (staff photo)
Kiera Howard (3) drives to the basket during Augusta University’s Peach Belt win over the CSU Cougars at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photo by Madison Keel)
