Jaguars rout Paine in Richmond Education Day game
By Jaxon Garner | Sports writer
The Augusta University men’s basketball team cruised to a 91-60 win over inner-city rival Paine College on Thursday, Dec. 5, during the annual Richmond County Education Game.
Christenberry Fieldhouse was packed with 2,000 fifth-graders from Richmond County schools, marking the team’s largest crowd of the season. The event aims to inspire young students by giving them a chance to experience college basketball.
“Every kid that comes to the game has probably never been in here before,” Augusta Coach Dip Metress said. “For them to get to watch college guys play means a lot.”
Before tipoff, Copeland Elementary student Dorian Mealing set the tone with the singing of the national anthem. Metress said he was impressed with Mealing’s poise.
“I talked to him before, and he said he was nervous,” Metress said. “But he knocked it out of the park. I can’t wait to see what he does in the future.”
The Jaguars tried to spark the crowd early with a designed alley-oop play for Chaevon Torrance, but the attempt came up short. Both teams got off to a slow start, which Metress chalked up to the nerves of playing in front of such a big audience.
At halftime, Augusta held a slim 36-32 lead, thanks in part to 16 first-half points from Demetri Gardner, who hit a pair of 3-pointers.
During the break, the university honored former Jaguars’ standout Garrett Siler, the program’s only player to make it to the NBA. Siler, now a student assistant coach, had his jersey retired in a ceremony that highlighted his contributions on and off the court. He led AU to the 2008 NCAA Division II national championship game.
“Garrett came here scoring less than 50 points in high school,” Metress said. “To now have his jersey retired and graduate in the same week is incredible. He’s a great player and an even better person.”
Augusta found its rhythm in the second half, clamping down defensively and holding the Lions to just 22.5 percent shooting and 28 points. The Jaguars also erupted offensively, scoring 55 points after the break to put the game out of reach.
The loudest cheer of the afternoon came in the final moments when redshirt freshman Alex Hogg scored his first career points. With the crowd on its feet, Hogg hit a step-back jumper from the top of the key, prompting an eruption from fans and his teammates.
“That was a special moment for us,” Metress said. “It’s great to see him have a moment like that in front of this crowd.”
Hogg couldn’t stop smiling after the game, soaking in the support from the fans and his teammates.
“It means everything to me — all the work I’ve put in since last year,” Hogg said. “The energy the kids brought was amazing. I loved every second of it.”
John St. Germain III led the Jaguars with 19 points, 11 of them coming from the free-throw line. Max Amadasun added 16 points and nine rebounds.
AU finished at 52.5 percent from the field and 21 of 24 from the line (87.5 percent). In the last four games, all wins, the Jaguars have made 81 of 93 from the line—or 87 percent.
The Jaguars, now riding a four-game winning streak after dropping their first four games of the season, will hit the road to face Emmanuel College on Dec. 12. AU’s next home game will be Dec. 18 against USC Beaufort in its Peach Belt Conference opener. Tip is 11 a.m. for Columbia County Education Day.
Paine dropped to 2-2 and was led by Kole Taylor with 17 points.
One day earlier, the AU women won at Converse by a 56-45 score. Elyse Autry led the Jaguars with 13 points. Augusta will host USC Beaufort in the Jags’ PBC opener on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1:30 p.m.
Contact Jaxon Garner at jaxgarner@augusta.edu.
AU point guard John St. Germain III (4) drives to the basket for two of his 19 points in the Jaguars’ 91-60 win over Paine College. At the top of the page, Demitri Gardner (2) pushes the ball to the hoop on a day when he scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds. (photos by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
AU Assistant Coach Garret Siler (R) watches as his No. 21 jersey is retired. Siler played for Jaguar Coach Dip Metress from 2005-2009 and led Augusta to the national title game in 2008. (photo by Lydia Williams)
