Festus Hawkins Lifts ASU to 64-63 Overtime Win

Spartanburg, SC --- Augusta State University’s men’s basketball team used a successful three-point play by Festus Hawkins with 16 seconds remaining in overtime to pull out a thrilling 64-63 win over USC Spartanburg. The win lifts ASU to 8-3 overall and 3-0 in the Peach Belt Conference.

ASU was playing for the second night without head coach Gary Tuell. Buck Harris, ASU’s assistant coach, has filled in for Tuell the past two games. Tuell was admitted into the hospital on Friday for an emergency appendectomy. Further complications have kept Tuell in the hospital as of Monday night. Tuell will be evaluated by a doctor on Tuesday night and hopefully released from the hospital at that time. He will not coach Wednesday’s game at UNC Pembroke.

ASU’s 8-3 record marks the best start for the Jaguars since the 1980-81 season, when Marvin Vanover led that team to an 8-3 start and an eventual 15-12 overall record.

Festus Hawkins hit a jumper and converted the free throw with 16 seconds left in the extra period to pull out the victory. Hawkins scored a game-high 24 points and pulled down six rebounds.

It was Chris Harriman's clutch three-pointer with five seconds left in regulation that notched the game at 55 heading into overtime.

Gary Boodnikoff added a double-double for the Jaguars with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

USC Spartanburg was led by Sherron Singleton’s 23 points and five rebounds.

The Jaguars will be on the road again Wednesday as they travel to UNC Pembroke for a 7:30 p.m. contest.