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COLUMBIA, S.C. – The Augusta University men's basketball team kicks off the 2018-19 season with a high-profile exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 26 against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. The game is free to all and the start time is set for 6:00 p.m.
"South Carolina is providing us a great opportunity to play within an hour from our campus and we look forward to competing against their storied program," Augusta head coach Dip Metress said.
Metress adds to his list of recent prestigious Division-I opponents including Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Wichita State. This is the third-straight season Metress has taken the Jaguars to battle Division-I competition. Last season, Augusta was leading Clemson at halftime before falling and in 2016 the team was in in a one-point game with under three minutes to play at Wichita State.
"Despite leading the Peach Belt in attendance for another year we were abysmal at home last year," Metress said. "With the leadership that our three seniors will provide us this season we are looking to get our mojo back at the Berry and prove to our loyal fans that it was an anomaly last year."
The Jaguars signed six in the offseason and return seven players from last year – including seniors Aaron Byrd, Tyvez Monroe, and Deane Williams. Catch the team at home this season in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
To view the 2018-19 Augusta men's basketball schedule click here
For information on Colonial Life Arena click here
GAME NOTES
The Jaguars signed six in the offseason and return seven players from last year – including seniors Aaron Byrd, Tyvez Monroe, and Deane Williams … Williams is the top returning scorer for AU after averaging 13.0 ppg in 2017-18 … Williams also led the team in rebounds (8.1 rpg), made free throws (96, 3.3 pg), and blocks (28, 1.0 pg) … Monroe averaged 12.6 ppg last season and paced the team in threes (168, 6.0 pg) … Byrd averaged 10.1 ppg and played the most minutes of any Jag in 2017-18 while ranking second on the team in three pointers (42, 47.7 3PT%).
About Augusta Men's Basketball
The Augusta University men's basketball team is led by head coach Dip Metress. On May 10, 2004, Metress was introduced as the fifth head coach in program history. He previously led the Belmont Abbey Crusaders (1996-04) and was an assistant for the Jaguars under Clint Bryant (1989-95). He has never had a losing season in his 14 seasons at the helm of the Jaguars. A two-time Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year, Metress and the Jags hosted five straight NCAA Regional Tournaments from 2007-11 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight three seasons in a row. He was named the South Atlantic Coach of the Year in 2007, the Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 2009, and the NABC Southeast District Coach of the Year in 2011.
Augusta men's hoops has retired four numbers in its 52-year history: Ben Madgen (1), Keshun Sherrill (10), Tyrekus 'AJ' Bowman (23), and Keenan Mann (32). The Jaguars have reached the NCAA tournament 11 times and won their region three times.
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