photo by Jahmoul Gordon
WILSON, N.C. – The Augusta Jaguars won their second game in two days on the road in Wilson, N.C., with an 85-76 non-conference victory over Barton College in the Wilson Gymnasium. Augusta had four players score in double-figure points on Saturday afternoon as the squad improved to 2-0 on the young season.
In day one of the weekend in Wilson, N.C., the Jaguars cruised to an 82-67 win over Mount Olive in the season opener on Nov. 11. The capped off the road trip with back-to-back wins over regional opponents.
Augusta shot 51.7 percent from field-goal territory (30-of-58) and held BC to 41.4 shooting (24-of-58). The Jags grabbed two more rebounds than Barton, 36-34, and held the lead for most of the contest.
Senior Keshun Sherrill and sophomore Deane Williams picked up from where they left off Friday night for Augusta, as Williams found Sherrill for the first points against the Bulldogs on Saturday. Barton quickly took the lead on a three pointer from RJ Claypool, but the first half score stayed within a five point deficit.
Juniors Tamyrik Fields and Kyle Doyle, and sophomore Tyvez Monroe each had four first-half points, while Sherrill led the squad with six at the break. Both teams were cold from the three-point line in the first half. The Jags were one-of-12 while the Bulldogs shot three-of-14 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes of play.
Barton took the half 32-27, but Sherrill came out of the pause with 12 quick points to help the team take a 44-42 lead with 14:55 left. Sherrill took a foul on a successful three pointer to cut it to one and he made the free throw to tie the game.
Sophomore Ja'Shawn Brooks buried a trey and Williams slammed home a dunk to take the momentum from the Bulldogs and a three-point play from sophomore Aaron Byrd put the squad on top by nine points with under 12 minutes to play.
Another deep shot from Claypool kept Barton close and cut the score to a two-point affair with 8:50 on the clock, but the Jaguars pushed back on top and never dropped the lead.
Sherrill led the Jaguars again and all scorers with 24 points, four assists, and three rebounds. Fields shot six-of-eight from the floor to total 14 points for Augusta, while Brooks had 12 off the bench and Monroe 11 points. Doyle had nine rebounds and six points and Byrd brought in seven points, four assists, and three steals.
Barton was led by Matt Woods' 19 points and Claypool's 15.
The 2016-17 home opener for Augusta is Thursday, Nov. 17 with a non-conference single game against Claflin at 7:30 p.m.
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