Jaguars end two-game skid with win at Clayton State
Staff report
The Augusta University Jaguars outscored Clayton State 50-30 in the second half on Saturday, Jan. 28, en route to a 79-61 Peach Belt win over the Lakers at The Loch in Morrow.
The AU men (8-2, 17-3) trailed 31-29 at halftime, but started the second half with a 13-0 run to build a 42-31 lead. Augusta gradually pulled away and led 70-47 on a Demitri Gardner jumper with 6:35 left to play.
The No. 9 Jaguars bounced back after losing their previous two games, at home to Flagler and on the road at USC Aiken.
“In the second half, the ball moved well, and we were able to play inside out,” said AU Coach Dip Metress. “In the first half, we were 3 of 16 from inside the arc, which is quite unusual since this is one of our strengths.”
Tyshaun Crawford led AU with 20 points and nine rebound, while Ja’Queze Kirby added 16 points and 13 board. Miguel Arnold tossed in 16 points on an afternoon when he made 4-of-5 3-point attempts.
The Jaguars shot 58 percent overall and a stellar 63 percent on their 3-point tries.
Brian Coffey II led the Lakers (0-9, 2-17) with 22 points. Richard Saams Jr. contributed 13 for Clayton State, which was held to a 35-percent shooting day.
The Jaguars moved back into first place after North Georgia lost in overtime 79-78 to USC Aiken. The Jaguars and Pacers are tied top the PBC standings at 8-2. North Georgia is a half game back at 7-2.
AU will host the Nighthawks on Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse in a key PBC matchup.
“North Georgia plays the right way and is one of the soundest defensive teams in our conference,” Metress said. “Their three losses are all by one point, so technically they are 3 points from being undefeated.”
In the women’s game Saturday, Clayton managed a 76-66 win over Augusta. Tomiyah Alford led AU with 16 points, followed by Mone Florence with 14. Autumn Phillips had 13 and Kennedi Manning 12 for the Jaguars (5-5, 12-8). Audrey McElhaney paced the Lakers (5-5, 10-9) with 21 points. Laylah Davis added 16 for the home team.
The AU women will host North Georgia at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 1. It will be Cancer Awareness Night at Christenberry.
Senior guard Darren Lucas-White (11) had 8 points, 3 assists and 2 steals in the Jaguars’ 79-61 win over Clayton State. At the top of the page, Miguel Arnold (5) had an efficient scoring day with 16 points, as he made 4-of-5 3-point tries. (photos by Madison Keel)
