AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University men's basketball team improved to 4-1 on the season with a 79-70 non-conference victory over Benedict College on Tuesday in Christenberry Fieldhouse. Augusta had five players score in double figures and shot 51.7 percent for their best field-goal percentage of the season.
After Benedict (0-2) took the early lead on the first basket, the Jaguars (4-1) overtook the scoreboard and never seized the lead the rest of the game.
Sophomore Tyvez Monroe was two points shy of his career high and led Augusta with 16 points. He added seven rebounds and five assists, while junior Tamyrik Fields scored 15 with three boards. Sophomore Deane Williams and junior Kyle Doyle each scored 13 points and Doyle grabbed six boards.
Augusta shot 51.7 percent from the floor to BC's 46.6 percent and made 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) free throws while the Tigers hit 13-of-18 (72.2 percent).
Entering the game leading the Peach Belt Conference with 25.3 points per game, Jags senior Keshun Sherrill scored 11 points with five assists and four rebounds. Augusta led by as much as 18 in the contest and outrebounded Benedict 38-26.
BC banked in a three pointer to start the game and the Tigers held the lead until the 12:16 mark in the first half. Augusta went on a 7-0 run capped off by an and-one play from Doyle to tie the game 15-15. Doyle nailed the free throw to give the Jags their first lead of the night.
Sophomore Ben Ursich entered off the bench with under 11 minutes and made his first attempt to keep the Jags' offense firing. The squad went off the rest of the opening 20 minutes and shot 58.6 percent from the floor in the first half.
Eight of the nine Jaguars scored in the first half and a 14-2 run willed the team to a 40-27 lead at the half. The team shot 100 percent from the free-throw line in the first half.
Brandon Morris was the go-to shooter for the Tigers in the second half and he scored his 16th point of the game on a jumper to cut the deficit to a 55-48 game. Morris led all scorers with 26 points.
Sherrill found Monroe wide open at the other end of the floor for another trey and he hit another with 6:50 to play for another double-digit advantage. Augusta held on to the score and won 79-70.
The Jaguars host Wingate University on Sunday, Nov. 29 for a 4:00 p.m. tipoff in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
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