Emory edges AU men's basketball in final preseason exhibition
By Justin Gray | Sports editor
The Augusta University men fell to Emory University 81-76 in the Jaguars’ final tune-up before the regular season begins this coming weekend.
This is the second consecutive season the Jaguars have lost to Emory, as they fell 96-86 last season in Atlanta.
It’s easy to look and wonder how the Jaguars lost to a Division III school, but this Emory team is one of the best that NCAA Division III has to offer, coming in at No. 8, according to the D3Hoops website—and the Eagles returned most of their talent from last season’s team.
The first half of the game was neck and neck the entire way, with the largest lead being Emory by seven, but Demitri Gardner and the Jaguars fought back to tie it up at 37 at the break.
Augusta led for most of the final half as it looked like the Jaguars could pull away at several times, but Emory always found a way to hit a big shot. And most of the time it was Jair Knight who had the key bucket.
He knocked down a layup and got fouled, converting the and-one opportunity to give the Eagles a 75-74 lead, and they went on a 6-2 run to close out AU in the final minute.
Even though the Jags fell, Gardner had his best outing of his collegiate career for the Jags as he totaled career-high in points with 32 and rebounds with nine.
John St. Germain III carried things over from his big freshman campaign with 18 points and three of AU’s five assists. Max Amadasun added 14 points and six rebounds.
Emory was led by the aforementioned Knight, who totaled 31 points and six rebounds. Cale Martens, a thorn in the AU side a year ago, had 12 points.
Losses are never a good thing, but coach Dip Metress believes the Jaguars learned from them.
“It is never OK to lose any type of game, but we learned a lot about some of our deficiencies and strengths in our two outside competitions,” said Metress, whose team played at Clemson on Oct. 30.
Unlike a lot of teams, the Jaguars play really good teams in their exhibitions every season to ensure that they get better and learn how to deal with adversity.
The Jaguars will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 8, at 5 p.m. against the University Mount Olive in Wilson, N.C. Then, the next day, AU will play Barton College at at 1 p.m., also in Wilson.
Contact Justin Gray at jusgray@augusta.edu.
AU’s Oliver Lucas (13) goes up for the tip during the Jaguars’ 81-76 loss to Emory on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Christenberry Fieldhouse. At the top of the page, Demittri Gardner (2) fired in 32 points for Augusta. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
AU’s John St. Germain III goes to the hoop for two of his 18 points against Emory in a men’s college basketball exhibition at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photo by Paula Toole/AU Athletics)
