Jags get double-overtime victory over Pacers; Florence has 25 in AU women's easy win

By Justin Gray | Sports editor

AiKEN, S.C.—The Augusta University men’s basketball team pulled off an epic double overtime win over its arch-rival, No. 24 USC Aiken, on Saturday, Feb. 10.  

After falling to the Pacers 83-70 on Jan. 13, the Jaguars came in the building with one thing on their mind: Just win.  

They took that mindset and did whatever they could to pull it out.  

The Jaguars fell behind 5-0 to start the game, but settled in and stayed within striking distance throughout the first half. They trailed 39-34 at the break.  

To start the second half, Augusta immediately put pressure on Aiken, cutting the lead to two and keeping it there for most of the half.  

Both teams were having trouble playing defense, as both offenses were taking over.  Both teams would shoot better than 50 percent—AU at 52.9 percent and USCA at 51.6 percent.

The tight affair saw Augusta finding itself behind by four points with 2:19 remaining on the clock, but senior Ja’Queze Kirby stepped up and made two free throws to cut the lead to two.  

USC Aiken took the ball up the court, and AU’s Demitri Gardner snuck in and got the steal, but he missed the layup. Luckily for the Jaguars, the high flying Kirby came through the lane and tied the game at 71.  

Both teams battled, but Aiken found their way to a 75-73 lead with seven seconds remaining. The Jaguars brought it up the court, and John St. Germain III, who would have a career night, took it to the rack, like he had done all afternoon, but this time found Max Amadasun sitting under the goal for an easy game-tying layup.  

The Jaguars and Pacers were now headed to their first overtime.  

Augusta took a late 84-82 lead, but Aiken drove into the hole and was fouled with only one second on the clock. Jameel Rideout knocked down both free throws and tied it at 84. The Jaguars let the time run out, and the two teams headed to a second overtime. 

Amadasun had fouled out in the first overtime. More adversity came the Jaguars way as they were down 90-87 and without David Viti, who also fouled out late in the second overtime period, but the resilience of freshman point guard Germain III kept the Jaguars in the game. He scored six straight points, giving them the lead. 

The next possession down, senior Timmy Sellers, Amadasun’s backup, went up and was fouled. Sellers, the Augusta product, knocked down both free throws and extended the lead to three.  

The Jaguars made their free throws to finish out the game and walked away with another huge Peach Belt Conference win.  They have won four straight to even their PBC record at 6-6. They also have won five of their last six games.

Indeed, this was the Jaguars biggest win of the season. To do that on the road in a rivalry game in a tough environment is impressive to say the least.

Germain III stepped up huge as USC Aiken had no answer for him. He scored his career-high 28 points and recorded seven assists in the upset victory. He led the team in both categories.  He only had two turnovers.

“This win was tremendous,” said the point guard from Charlottesville, Va. “We’ve been fighting back all year, but now we’re starting to click when we need it in February.” 

Gardner followed him with 18 points, including a clutch 3-pointer to tie the game in overtime. Amadasun added 17 points and nine rebounds in the affair.  

“We just had to tough it out and take it one play at a time,” said the Center from Dublin, Ireland. “Obviously, John stepped up big time and made huge plays down the stretch which was the game changer.” 

Kirby added 13 points and seven boards, while Viti had 10 and eight rebounds for AU.

USC Aiken was led by Tehree Horn, who had 24 points. 

“The Jaguars ain’t dead yet,” said a happy AU Coach Dip Metress afterwards. “John was the only one who stayed positive throughout, and boy did he go crazy in the second half. He played unbelievable.” 

Augusta now leads the all-time series with USCA 54-31.

AU, 13-9 overall, is now tied for fourth with Flagler and Georgia Southwestern in the Peach Belt Conference standings with another big week looming. The Jaguars will host Flagler on Feb. 14 at 7:30 p.m. AU will host GSW next Saturday (Feb. 17).

Earlier, the Jaguar women won their fifth straight, defeating USC Aiken 78-61. AU remains in a tie for first place with Georgia Southwestern in the PBC.

The Jaguars knew all they had to do was handle business against USC Aiken, which is winless in the conference. They did just that, jumping out to an early 22-14 lead after the first quarter.  

Augusta kept up the pace in the second quarter with their leading staying at eight, 39-31.  

In the second half, USC Aiken tried to make some runs, cutting the lead to four at one point, but the Jaguars never let them get any closer and by the fourth they finished them off running away with the 17-point victory.  

Mone Florence and Autumn Phillips were the difference makers in what became another PBC win.  

Florence tied her career with 25 points on 7 of 9 from behind the 3-point line. Phillips added 23 points, and she was 3 of 4 on 3-pointers. As a team, the Jaguars shot an astounding 73.3 percent from behind the arc.  

Kennedi Manning led them on the glass with 10 rebounds.  Tomiyah Alford had 11 points for the Jags.

USC Aiken was led by Marta Rivera who had 19 points and Jentri Worley added 14.  

The Jaguars have to take care of their games like this one if they want to stay atop the PBC. 

Next up for the Jaguars (10-2, 16-6) is Flagler College on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 5:30 p.m.  and then they will have the showdown with GSW on Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m.

Contact Justin Gray at jusgray@augusta.edu.

AU Coach Dip Metress ended a four-game losing streak to arch-rival USC Aiken with a dramatic double-overtime win over the Pacers in Aiken on Feb. 10. At the top of the page, John St. Germain III (14) had a career-high 28 points to lead to the 98-83 2OT victory. (photos by Paula Toole, AU Athletics)

Max Amadasun (17) hit key shots for Augusta University at the end of regulation and the first overtime before fouling out. Amadasun finished with 17 points and nine rebounds in the Jaguars’ 98-93 2OT win over USC Aiken. (photo by Paula Toole, AU Athletics)