SAVANNAH, Ga. – Leading the Peach Belt Conference standings, the Augusta University men's basketball team lost their first game in 2017 on Wednesday night in an 86-79 loss at Armstrong State.
Augusta (15-4, 8-3 PBC) entered the night on an eight game winning streak, but the Pirates (8-11, 3-7 PBC) prevailed past the Jags in the final minute to win their third game in the league.
The Jags sit in the top three in the PBC in three point percentage, free throws, rebounds, assists, and free throws, but Armstrong shot above 50 percent from the floor, three-point line, and free-throw stripe to upset Augusta.
AU shot 47.7 percent from the floor (31-for-65) to Armstrong's 53.7 percent (29-for-54) and 34.8 percent (8-for-23) from beyond the perimeter to the Pirates' 50 percent (14-for-28) mark. Augusta outrebounded Armstrong 39-24, but committed 12 turnovers.
Jags sophomore Tyvez Monroe continued to show his range and made 4-of-9 threes as he finished with 24 points. Monroe also managed five rebounds and a pair of assists and steals.
Senior Keshun Sherrill went 6-for-14 from the floor and made all four of his free throws to total 18 points. Junior Tamyrik Fields put up 10 points in the first half and finished with 12 and three rebounds.
Corey Tillery exploded for 36 points – highlighted by 10 three pointers for the Pirates. Denzel Council had 18 and KJ James 16.
Sherrill opened the game with a three pointer off a Kyle Doyle assist and the Jags held a slight lead until the 12:11 mark when Tillery tied the game 20-all on an early three pointer.
The Jags led the half with 1:06 on the clock when Tillery hit another three pointer for a 37-36 Pirate lead. Fields threw down a dunk at the halftime buzzer to get it within one as Augusta went into halftime down 39-38.
The scored changed five times in the first five minutes of the second half. Augusta built a 62-55 lead on a Monroe three pointer, but the Pirates came back and stole the lead to under a minute. Back-to-back layups lifted Armstrong up 84-79 with 27 seconds to go and they survived to knock off the Jags.
The Jaguars host the USC Aiken Pacers on Monday, Jan. 30 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. A White Out is forecast for Christenberry Fieldhouse. Fans, don your favorite white outfit and head over to the berry' Monday for the annual rivalry showdown. The women play at 5:30 p.m. before the men's game.
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