Jags Roll Mount Olive 82-67 In Season Opener

Jags Roll Mount Olive 82-67 In Season Opener

WILSON, N.C. – The Augusta University men's basketball team officially tipped off the 2016-17 season on Friday night against the University of Mount Olive in a neutral-site game on the campus of Barton College in the Wilson Gymnasium. Sporting new Augusta uniforms to start the season, the Jags overtook the score after the first bucket and never let go of the lead.

Augusta plays another non-conference game on Saturday, Nov. 12 against host Barton College at 1:00 p.m.

Senior All-American and preseason All-Conference selection Keshun Sherrill paced the Jaguars and all scorers with 22 points. He added five assists and four rebounds and was eight-for-eight at the free-throw line. It was the second most points for Sherrill in season openers.

Sophomore Deane Williams had a double-double with under five minutes to play and he ended the contest with 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Jags. Sophomore shooter Tyvez Monroe scored 16 points with three steals, seven boards, and four assists.

Augusta junior-transfer Kyle Doyle and freshman Derrick Oliver logged their first official minutes in Jaguar jerseys as well. Doyle dished up 15 points off the bench.

The Jaguars were sizzling shooting the ball. They shot 73.7 percent from the charity stripe and 50.8 from the floor. The Trojans were led by Cameron Robinson and Dedric Boyd's 12 points. Augusta outrebounded UMO 40-33 in the win.

UMO hit the opening basket of the game, but Jags junior Tamyrik Fields hit his first two attempts to take the lead. Augusta led by 11 points midway through the first half after a pair of Sherrill free throws and never dropped the advantage. Under two minutes until halftime, Jags junior Kyle Doyle blocked a shot off the glass and found Sherrill for an open basket.

The Jaguars took halftime 41-35 led by Sherrill's 13 points and Deane Williams' eight.

Monroe was fouled on a good three-point shot to start the second half and he sunk a put-back layup as Augusta rolled to another double-digit lead. A 14-point lead at the 15:21 mark in the second half was the second-largest lead of the game for the Jaguars. They build it to 17 at one point.

UMO never stopped pushing the momentum and cut it to a four-point game on a basket in the paint. Back-to-back scores from Williams gave the Jags some safety and Sherrill found Monroe at the top of the key for a good three ball. Augusta was back on top 74-65 with 3:25 to play and stayed on top.

Last time out against the Trojans, Sherrill put up 34 points, three rebounds, and an assist.

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