Jaguar men win PBC basketball crown, will host Belmont Abbey in Southeast Regional opener
By Carlos Rodriguez | Co-editor in chief
The Augusta University men’s basketball team captured the Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship Saturday night, March 5, at Christenberry Fieldhouse by defeating No. 25 Flagler 82-71.
The win gives the 10th-ranked Jaguars (28-3) their 14th straight win and both the PBC regular-season and tournament crowns, marking the first time they’ve won them since the 2018-19 season.
“It was a great team effort, and I’m really happy for our guys to get this,” said AU coach Dip Metress.
Miguel Arnold and Tyshaun Crawford and led the Jaguars scoring 22 points each. Arnold knocked down five 3-pointers while Crawford grabbed 11 rebounds to give him a double-double. Arnold was named to the all-tournament team and Crawford was named the tournament MVP.
“These guys have believed in me ever since I came down here,” said Crawford, the PBC’s co-player of the year. “They invested time in me and they have never turned their back on me and I’ll never turn my back on them.’
AU was without Timmy Sellers, who is Crawford’s backup, due to a knee injury. With Sellers not available, Crawford’s role became even more important and he played a game-high 38 minutes while picking up four fouls.
“I tried to adjust on how the refs were going to call the game from the last two games,” said Crawford. “I tried to stay poised and keep my hands up and not bite on every pump fake and I think I did a great job of that this time.”
Troy Cracknell and Tyree Myers were also in double figures, chipping in 14 and 11 points, respectively.
Derrick Ellis Jr. led the Saints with 17 points and Saints’ standout Jaizec Lottie scored 16. Lottie led the Saints to the NCAA Division II title game last season.
In the first half, Flagler jumped out to a quick 16-8 lead following back-to-back 3-pointers from Lottie and Kohl Roberts. AU cut the lead to 23-22 after Myers knocked down two free throws with 6:54 remaining.
Later in the half the Saints picked up the scoring pace again going on an 8-0 run that was capped off by a 3-pointer from Chase Fiddler at the 3:05 mark to go up 34-26. The Saints were held scoreless the rest of the half while the Jags got within two points after Arnold made two 3-pointers to close the half with AU trailing 34-32.
“We had Troy and (Ja’Queze) Kirby with two fouls and Timmy (Sellers) not playing, so we were kind of disjointed a little bit offensively and Miguel really kept us in the game,” said Metress.
Cracknell ignited the Jags momentum right away in the second half, coming out and converting on a four-point play after making a 3-pointer while being fouled.
"I knew first half I was in foul trouble and didn’t do too well, so I knew I had to come out strong and hitting that shot was just big,” Cracknell said. “I feel like it kind of ignited us and got us all started off.”
Arnold made two big plays on back-to-back possessions to separate the Jags lead after converting an and-one floater and knocking down a 3-pointer to go up 48-39 with 14:22 left.
Later on, a corner three from Cracknell would give AU its biggest lead of the game of 12, going up 58-46 with under 10 minutes remaining. The Saints fought back to not let things get worse as they went on an 8-0 run to cut the lead to 58-54 at the 8:17 mark.
Both teams continued to go back and forth and the Jags final separation didn’t occur until Myers knocked down what felt like the game-sealing shot as the shot clock expired and the Jags went up 74-62 with 1:18 left. Myers was able to have that shot after an amazing offensive rebound by Darren Lucas-White led to the Baltimore, Md., point guard sinking the key jumper. Lucas-White sneaked past Flagler’s big men and slapped the ball toward the base line, where he retrieved it. Then Myers milked the clock before hitting his critical jumper.
“Teams who win have great point guard play,” said Metress. “Tyree’s high school coach when I recruited him said he’s all about winning and playing ball. He was happy to get a ring and he knows the significance of it. I’m just very happy him and his family took a chance on us four years ago.”
Flagler scored a couple of times on the other end and set up a full court press to try to get a steal, but were unsuccessful and sent Augusta to the line as the Jaguars closed out the 82-71 win.
The Jags received great production from the free throw line once again shooting 22 of 28 from the line. Overall AU shot 51 percent from the field.
AU earned the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional and will host the event for the first time since 2011. The first round begins Saturday, March 12, followed by the second round on March 13 and the regional championship on Tuesday, March 14.
The region consists of eight teams varying from teams from the PBC, Conference Carolinas and South Atlantic Conference. Three of the eight teams receive an automatic bid by winning their conference tournament with the remaining five receiving at-large bids.
The Jags will face off against Metress’ alma mater in No. 8 Belmont Abbey (22-9) on Saturday, with 5 p.m. being the likely tipoff time. Metress was the also the former head coach at Belmont Abbey for eight seasons prior to his arrival at Augusta.
The current Crusaders’ team is on a seven-game win streak, beating UNC Pembroke (former Peach Belt member) 79-73 in the Conference Carolinas Tournament final over the weekend.
The remaining teams are No. 2 Queens, No. 3 Lincoln Memorial, No. 4 UNC Pembroke, No. 5 Flagler, No. 6 Georgia College and No. 7 Columbus State.
Contact Carlos Rodriguez at carrodriguez@augusta.edu.
PBC Tournament MVP Tyshaun Crawford (0) flushes a dunk against Flagler in the finale. (photo by Chris Rickerson) At the top of the page, AU guard Tyree Myers (2) drives for two against the Saints’ defense. (photo by Madison Keel)
AU’s Troy Cracknell (12) lines up a 3-pointer as Jalen Barr guards for Flagler; Cracknell had 14 points, including three 3-pointers. (photo by Chris Rickerson)
The Jaguars’ David Viti (3) drives to the basketball during the 82-71 win over Flagler in the Peach Belt final at Christenberry Fieldhouse. (photo by Madison Keel)
Miguel Arnold cuts down the net after Augusta won the PBC Tournament title, as his teammates and Augustus watch. (photo by Madison Keel)
