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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University men's basketball team hosted the Columbus State Cougars on Saturday afternoon for the first home game of 2018 and the Jaguars dropped a tight 66-60 contest in Christenberry Fieldhouse. The victory was the first for the Cougars at Augusta since January of 2004, snapping an eight-game losing streak.
Augusta is now 7-5 on the season and 4-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. With the road victory, Columbus State moved to 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the PBC.
Senior Tamyrik Fields led all scorers with 20 points, while adding three rebounds and an assist for the Jaguars. Junior Deane Williams put up 12 points with five boards for AU and sophomore Mikkel Kolstad had eight points, with three rebounds and an assist. Augusta recorded a 43.9 field-goal percentage (25-for-57) to CSU's 39.7 percent (23-for-58).
The free-throw line made the difference in the game, with CSU hitting 12-of-15 (80 percent) and Augusta 7-for-17 (41.2 percent). The rebound battle when to Columbus State, 41-33, but the Jags did outscore CSU, 30-24, in the paint. CSU had nine of their 11 players record points.
CSU controlled the first 10 minutes of action and led 20-16 thanks to four quick three pointers. Augusta eliminated a 10-point deficit in the first half to trail 35-32 at halftime. Two big treys from CSU put them safely ahead to start the second half. They outscored AU 20-9 in the first 10 minutes of the half.
Augusta continued to fight and they tied the contest 52-52 with 5:55 to go on Dereck Oliver's fast-break bucket. Under two minutes to go, the game was a one-possession affair. Augusta had a chance to tie the game on the other end at the charity stripe, but missed three free throws to give the ball back to CSU. The Cougars connected on two timely free throws with one minute left and held on for a 66-60 final.
Augusta begins a three game road trip on Wednesday, Jan. 10 with a PBC game at UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C., at 5:30 p.m.
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