AU men lose at USC Aiken to drop second straight game

By Carlos Rodriguez | Sports editor

The No. 9 ranked Augusta University men’s basketball team suffered their second straight loss, falling to USC Aiken, 81-76 on Wednesday night, Jan. 25 at the USC Aiken Convocation Center.

The Jaguars fell to 16-3 overall and 7-2 in the Peach Belt Conference, while the Pacers, winners of three-straight games, improved to 14-5 and 7-2 in the PBC. Both teams sit in a three-way tie with Lander for second in the PBC standings, sitting a half-game behind current league leader North Georgia (7-1).

USC Aiken was led by Tehree Horn, who scored 16 points. Jameel Rideout knocked down four 3-pointers en route to his 13 points, while Demetrios Dixon added 11 off the bench.

Tyshaun Crawford and Miguel Arnold led AU with 22 and 21 points, respectively. Darren Lucas-White, coming off a sprained ankle suffered last Wednesday, scored 10 points. Lucas-White had played only three minutes in the Jags’ 89-75 home loss to Flagler on Jan. 21.

The Pacers seemed to have energy all night and despite being “down the road” from Augusta, having the home crowd paid dividends. They fed off their crowd and were able to hunker down in key moments.

The game started off with a quick 3-pointer by AU’s Ja’Queze Kirby. USC Aiken’s Tyler Johnson answered with a jumper and the Pacers took the lead a minute later after a fastbreak layup by Horn put them ahead 4-3.

Dixon extended the Pacers lead to 10, after getting a steal and converting an and-one layup, going up 21-11 with 11:45 remaining.

AU got within five points, but Aiken once again pushed the lead to 10 a couple of times, going up 31-21 after a bucket by Johnson with 6:49 left.

After being down 10, the Jags went on a 10-0 run to tie the game at 31. Crawford started the run with a bucket in the paint, while Chris Britt closed the run with a 3-pointer to tie the game with two minutes remaining in the half.

Rideout knocked down a 3-pointer for Aiken with 14 seconds left, putting the Pacers ahead 37-35, but AU’s Arnold sunk his own 3-pointer before the buzzer, sending the Jags into the break ahead, 38-37.

Rideout began the second half with a quick 3-point make to put the Pacers back up ahead, but Kirby quickly tied it, grabbing an offensive rebound and putting it back up.

After a neck-and-neck start to the half, the Pacers found their rhythm, using a 7-0 run to go up 60-49 with 10:45 left to play. A layup by Horn gave them their biggest lead of the game as they went up 68-55.

At the 6:04 mark, Crawford helped cut the lead to seven with a dunk, as AU trailed 68-61.

Both teams traded buckets, but it looked like the Pacers were running away with it until a late rally by the Jags. After being down 75-69 with 1:42 left, Tyree Myers knocked down a 3-pointer while being fouled, converting the four-point play to make it a one-possession game.

The next possession for Aiken, Johnson hit the dagger, getting wide-open corner 3-pointer to go up 78-72 with 51 seconds left.

“In reviewing the film, our player stumbled, and it affected his closeout,” said AU Coach Dip Metress.

This forced the Jaguars to look for 3-point opportunities that didn’t fall, sending the Pacers to the line to seal the game 81-76.

The Pacers shot better than the Jaguars from the field by a hair, shooting 56.6-percent compared to the Jags 56.4-percent performance. Flagler also shot keel against AU, hitting at a 58-percent clip overall.

What helped Aiken was their nine 3-pointers and 12 free throw makes, While AU made five and nine, respectively. The Pacers also saw a lot of success getting up the floor quickly on misses by the Jags, scoring 12 fastbreak points.

“The ability to guard the 3-point line is a major concern every time teams tip it off in this era of basketball,” Metress said.

Augusta will head on the road to play Clayton State (2-16, 0-8)  on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 3:30 p.m. USC Aiken plays North Georgia in a matchup that could shake up the conference standings.

The Jaguars will get a chance to reclaim the top spot in the conference next Wednesday, Feb. 1, as they host North Georgia at Christenberry Fieldhouse at 7:30 p.m.

“Championships are won in February, as long as you don't dig yourself into a hole,” Metress remarked.

In the women’s game Tuesday night, the Pacers scored a 68-52 home-court win over the Jaguars. Jentri Worley had 15 points and Emily Trushel 14 for USC Aiken (5-4, 11-8). AU (5-4, 12-7) was paced by Autumn Phillips and Tomiyah Alford with 12 points each. The two teams are in a tie for third place in the PBC.

Contact Carlos Rodriguez at carrodriguez@augusta.edu.

AU’s Miguel Arnold (5) drives to the basket for two of his 21 points in the five-point loss to the Pacers. At the top of the page, Tyshaun Crawford (0) goes up strong for the dunk on a night when the Augusta center had 22 points. (photos by Madison Keel)

Augusta guard Autumn Phillips (5) looks for a driving lane in the Jaguars’ 68-52 loss at USC Aiken; Phillips scored 12 points for AU. (photo by Madison Keel)