Over 2,500 Richmond County fifth graders cram Christenberry Fieldhouse
AUGUSTA, Ga. – With over 2,500 Richmond County fifth graders in attendance, the Augusta University Jaguars outlasted the Coastal Georgia Mariners 89-85 in front of a roaring crowd on Tuesday afternoon in Christenberry Fieldhouse for Education Day.
The Jaguars hosted their second annual Education Day game on Tuesday morning. There were 2,500 students in attendance from various Richmond County elementary schools.
Senior Trevor Foreman was a defensive force and recorded six steals, five assists, and a career-high nine points in the win. Junior Keshun Sherrill posted his new career-best 43 points – eclipsing his previous record of 37. Sherrill nailed five three pointers and hit 14-15 at the charity stripe. The Jags shot 56.4 percent from the field and the Mariners shot 50.0 percent. Augusta owned the rebound battle 32-27 and 14 second-chance points in the paint.
Senior Tommy Williams hit the opening layup and got a steal the next possession to spark Augusta ahead out of the start. Augusta sophomore Tamyrik Fields hit back-to-back jumpers to put the Jags up 12-6 and a fast-break layup with 14:40 gave all the momentum to the home team.
USC Aiken transfer Dominic Early produced a quick five points for Coastal Georgia to keep the game tight, but Sherrill connected for his first three point to boost the Jags ahead 22-14. Freshman Aaron Byrd found Sherrill alone on the perimeter again for another successful three ball to build the lead.
Augusta led by as much as 17 in the first half, but the Mariners completed two and-one plays and Early hit a three at the buzzer for a 41-34 halftime score. Sherrill had 18 first half points, while T. Williams had 10 in the first half and ended the game with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Two Coastal Georgia free throws opened the second half and cut the Jaguar lead to 45-40. Sherrill and Deane Williams ruined the Mariner run with back-to-back three pointers to keep the Jags ahead by double digits, but Coastal responded with a Dominic Early three ball and layup to create a five-point affair.
Derick Rose stole the ball from the Jags at the top of the key and drove the court for a layup to push the Mariners up 58-57 for their first lead of the day.
In the next two minutes, Foreman recorded four steals in a row and found a wide open Sherrill for six-straight fast-break points to retake the lead. Early connected on another three pointer to tie the game at 68-all, but Sherrill went off in the second half and steady defense sealed the late-minute victory.
Early had a team-high 34 points, while Jamaal Rhodes scored 16 and Marquice Jones 10.
The Jaguars begin Peach Belt Conference play on Thursday, Dec. 17 when the Jags play at Georgia Southwestern for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff in Americus, Ga.
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