GREENWOOD, S.C. – The Augusta Jaguars avenged a midseason loss to the Lander Bearcats with an 82-73 victory on Saturday afternoon at Lander University in Peach Belt Conference action.
With the win, Augusta (15-10, 11-7 PBC) was able to prevent Lander (18-9, 12-6 PBC) from grabbing the Eastern Division title in the PBC, keeping their own hopes for at least a share of the title alive.
The Jaguars shot 47.4 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range against Lander's 36.1 percent from the floor and 29.2 percent from three-point range.
The Jaguars had three players in double-digit scoring for the game. Junior Keshun Sherrill recorded 24 points and nine rebounds, one board shy of a double-double and senior Tommy Williams and sophomore Tamyrik Fields both recorded 16 points for the game.
Augusta came out hot from beyond the arc, with four of their first five baskets being three-pointers. Lander seemed to have an answer for every shot the Jaguars drained in the half as the lead never grew beyond five points.
The first half saw eight tie scores and Augusta was able to retake the lead. The teams ended the half evenly matched and tied 36-36.
The Jags started the second half strong, opening with a 12-4 run, but Lander chipped away at the lead throughout the second half, getting as close as three at one point. The buffer created by the early-half run was enough for Augusta to maintain the lead for the remainder of the half as the Jaguars took the game 82-73, capped off by a runaway dunk by Sherrill.
Free throw shooting proved to be the late-stage difference that allowed the Jaguars to close out the game as they went 20-25 from the free-throw line.
Augusta will face USC Aiken in the regular-season finale on Wednesday night, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in Aiken, S.C. The Jaguars look to gain a share of the PBC Eastern Division title with a win against USC Aiken and a loss by Lander at Georgia College on Wednesday.
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