Story by Leeroy Francis
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AMERICUS, Ga. – The Augusta University men's basketball team traveled to the Georgia Southwestern Hurricanes Saturday afternoon for a Peach Belt Conference game and left with a 76-67 victory at in Americus, Ga.
TEAM STATS
Augusta (13-4, 9-2 PBC)
FG% 50.0
3PT% 40.0
FT% 90.9
Georgia Southwestern (2-14, 0-10 PBC)
FG% 43.6
3PT% 40.9
FT% 71.4
Augusta junior Rafael Montiero scored a game-high 25 points adding eight rebounds, one assist and a steal for the Jaguars Wednesday night, while freshman Miguel Arnold also scored in double-digits - adding 14 points and two assists. AU senior Deane Williams played numerous roles for the Jaguars tonight scoring 12 points, grabbing six rebounds, three assists and all three Augusta blocks in the victory.
The Jaguars and Canes exchanged baskets early to start the contest, but a reoccurring theme for the Jaguars is to find a way to pull away early and tonight was no exception. After leading 6-3 early in the first period, the Jaguars quickly found themselves ahead by 10 on the Canes, 17-7, with 12:31 left in the first half. After being down 17-7 with 12:31 left, the Canes went on a run of their own and outscored the visiting Jaguars 21-11 the next eight minutes of the contest to tie the game at 28-28 with 3:35 left in the first half.
After three quick layups in the final two minutes of the contest and a Miguel Arnold three-pointer, the Jaguars built a six-point lead going into halftime 37-31.
In the second half, the Jaguars fought hard to maintain their first-half lead, but the Canes found a way to score against the PBC's best defense. Relying on their three-point shooting to bring them back into the game, GSW constantly in the first 10:00 minutes found themselves only down three numerous times nearly taking their first lead of the game late in the contest.
With the GSW only down one with 04:22 left, the Jaguars played their best defense of the game. AU allowed the Canes to score four more points the remaining 4:51 in the contest to pull away late with high percentage shots in the paint to seal the victory in Americus 76-67.
The Canes were led by senior Devin Watson and R.J Sessions each scoring 12 points in the contest. Watson played 30 minutes for the Canes scoring 12 points and adding two assists and three steals in the contest, while Sessions played off the bench adding two rebounds and an assist for GSW.
The Jaguars had the edge in two key shooting categories tonight shooting 50 percent to GSW's 43 percent from the field and shooting an impressive 90 percent from the free-throw line. AU went 20-for-22 from the line against the Canes' 71 percent – making 10 free-throws on only 14 attempts.
Augusta will travel back home to Christenberry Fieldhouse Wednesday, Jan. 30th to meet crosstown rival USC Aiken on "Greek Life Night" for a PBC rivalry showdown in Augusta, Ga., at 7:30 p.m. The Jaguars then battle Lander University February 2nd at 2:00 p.m. in Christenberry.
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