Jaguars sweep Georgia College in PBC hoops action; men get first road win
By Justin Gray | Sports writer
MILLEDGEVILLE—It was a successful end to January for Augusta University’s basketball teams as the women took down Georgia College 76-67, and shortly after the men did the same, running away with their first conference road win of the season, 77-61, on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Let’s start with the AU men and their impressive win at the Centennial Center.
It was a slow start to the game for the Jaguars. Through 13 minutes of play, they only had 12 points. They needed something to kick-start them in the right direction.
Insert Ja’Queze Kirby, who took over, shooting it from all over the court. He led Augusta on a 16-6 run to end the half and take a 28-25 lead.
The two teams stayed neck and neck throughout the second half, no team taking more than a three-point lead.
The momentum switch came when Kirby knocked down three-pointers on back to back possessions giving the Jaguars a 63-56 cushion.
From there on, Demitri Gardner came alive for Augusta, and it was “all she wrote” as the Jaguars finished off their big win.
Winning on the road in the Peach Belt Conference is no easy feat so the Jaguars were enthusiastic about this victory.
“Great team effort,” said AU Coach Dip Metress. “We regrouped after the first round of conference games and said we have ten left, let’s see if we can get this first road win and we did, now we have to get ready for Columbus State.”
Kirby led the Jaguars with 22 points, including shooting 3-5 from behind the arc. He also grabbed seven rebounds.
“We’ve been working trying to get a conference road win and we finally got one tonight,” said the Hazlehurst native. “I’m seeing the floor better than I have all year.”
Gardner added 19 points, all of which came in the second half.
“Our goal is to steal as many on the road as we can,” said the shooting guard from Winchester, Va. “Honestly, I just do what I can to help my team win, whatever it takes.”
Max Amadasun added 13 points and eight rebounds. David Viti scored 12 points in the affair.
Georgia College was led by Brendan Rigsbee with 16 points.
Defense was crucial in the win. AU held GCSU to 36 percent shooting from the floor. The Bobcats made only 4 of 22 from 3-point land.
This was a step in the right direction for a young Jaguar team (3-6, 10-9). The Jaguars’ next task is Columbus State at Christenberry Fieldhouse this Saturday, Feb. 3. Tipoff will be 30 minutes after the women’s game ends.
Now to Celeste Stewart’s Jaguar women. It was a tight game all the way through, much like the men’s game.
The Jaguars did just enough to stay ahead in the first half, leading 36-32 at the break.
Coming out of halftime, it seemed as if the Jaguars were going to blowout Georgia College extending their lead to nine, but the Bobcats went on a 14-4 lead to take the lead from AU.
After losing the lead, Augusta (7-2, 13-6) regrouped and depended on its women in the paint to regain the lead 52-48 to end the third.
The fourth quarter was all Kennedi Manning, who finished with 17 points and nine rebounds, as she led her Jaguars to another PBC victory.
“Proud of our team securing another win on the road,” said AU’s Stewart. “We continue to fight through adversity and play with composure. Another challenge ahead this weekend, we must continue to keep our composure as a team through the course of the game. Stay true to our principles offensively and defensively. Control the controllable.”
Tomiyah Alford not only had her second straight game with 20-plus points (25), but she also joined the 1,000-point club for her career.
The AU women currently sit tied with Lander for second place in the PBC, even though Lander currently has the tiebreaker.
This weekend they play host to Columbus State, who has won their last four games and currently holds a 6-3 PBC record.
Tipoff Saturday will be at 1:30 p.m.
Contact Justin Gray at jusgray@augusta.edu.
AU’s Oliver Lucas (13) grabs a rebound during the Jaguars’ 77-61 win over Georgia College and State University. At the top of the page, Augusta’s Ja’Queze Kirby scores two of his 22 in the Jags’ first road win of the PBC season. (photos by Paula Toole, AU Athletics)
