AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State junior Patrick Curran scored a game-high 19 points to lead the Jaguars to a 94-82 exhibition victory over the Akron Wingfoots Friday night at the ASU Athletic Complex.
Curran’s effort paced five Jags in double figures. David Siebrands tallied 13 for ASU while Jermale Wilkerson and Ben Butler chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Marty Dunham added 10 points and a game-high nine rebounds for the Jags. Mike Homik led Akron with 17.
Curran, a transfer from Wingate, got ASU going early with eight quick points before Wilkerson, a transfer from Middle Tennessee State, caught fire, scoring eight of his 10 first-half points in the last 3:09 of the half as ASU ended the half on a 15-2 run.
Butler keyed ASU’s hot second-half start when he scored on three straight trips down the floor to push the Jags ahead 80-60 with 8:16 remaining in the game. Curran’s last basket of the night gave ASU its biggest lead of the contest at 85-63 with 6:41 left.
In all, 12 Jags saw floor time in their 2002-03 season debut. Former Augusta State standout Derek Stewart added 15 points off the bench for Akron, while former Richmond Academy and Seton Hall standout Ty Shine posted seven points for the Wingfoots.
ASU officially opens its 2002-03 campaign on Fri., Nov. 22 in Jefferson City, Tenn. at 8:00 p.m., when the Jags take on Carson-Newman, ranked 10th in the NCAA Division II preseason poll.