AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University men's basketball team handed the Montevallo Falcons their first Peach Belt Conference loss of the season in a 73-60 win in Christenberry Fieldhouse Saturday evening for their third win a row.
Augusta (10-3, 3-2 PBC) shot 50 percent from the floor for the second straight game against Montevallo (9-2, 3-1 PBC). The Jags held the Falcons to 60 points – 20 points shy of their season average.
Senior Keshun Sherrill reached double-figure points in the first half and ended the day with 23 points to lead the Jags and all scorers. Junior Tamyrik Fields scored 10 points with four rebounds and sophomore Tyvez Monroe managed nine points, four boards, and a pair of steals and assists.
Augusta shot 50 percent from field-goal range to UM's 36.4 percent and outscored the bench 18-6. Both teams matched 33 rebounds, but Augusta made 6-of-19 threes (31.6 percent) and Held Montevallo to 3-of-13 (23.1 percent) from the arc.
Ranked second in the Peach Belt in scoring, behind Augusta's Sherrill, Javonte Douglas scored 16 for Montevallo and Jamaar Taylor had a team best 20 points.
Augusta won the tipoff and scored first to get things moving. A behind the back pass from Kyle Doyle led to an easy layup from Deane Williams and a two-handed dunk from Sherrill ignited the crowd and gave Augusta an 11-7 lead at the first media timeout.
The lead changed three times in the opening minutes, but Augusta took it back on a made trey from Sherrill at the 16:34 mark. The never changed the rest of the game. With 2:15 to go in the initial half, Sherrill sunk a deep three pointer to give the Jags a 34-21 advantage. Doyle had seven points and two assists at the break as Augusta held a 36-29 halftime lead.
Two free throws from Jamaar Taylor started the second half for UM, but Monroe's corner basket kept the Jags ahead. After leading by as much 13 in the opening 20 minutes, Augusta let Montevallo into a four-point game with 13:57 to play.
A slew of jumpers put them back on top safely and three balls from Ben Ursich and Tyvez Monroe in the corner put the Jaguars up 60-44 with under 10 to go. The Jaguars won 73-60 for their third win a row.
The Peach Belt Conference schedule continues for Augusta as they travel to Clayton State in Morrow Ga., on Monday, Jan. 9 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
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