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AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Augusta University men's basketball team won the 2019 Peach Belt Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon with a 93-86 victory over the USC Aiken Pacers. The Jaguars never trailed to win their 13th straight game and claim their fifth tourney title in school history.
TEAM STATS
No. 24 Augusta (26-5)
FG% 58.9
3PT% 41.7
FT% 70.8
No. 16 USC Aiken (26-5)
FG% 45.5
3PT% 46.2
FT% 70.0
Hosting the PBC Tournament for the seventh time in school history and playing in the championship game for the eighth time, Augusta won its fifth tournament title and it's third under head coach Dip Metress. The Jags now have a 33-23 record all time in the event.
Senior Deane Williams delivered his 12th double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds for Augusta. Jaguar junior Rafael Monteiro had 16 at halftime and ended with 20 points and seven rebounds. AU freshman Tyree Myers turned in 15 points, five steals, four assists and a pair of rebounds and senior Tyvez Monroe and sophomore Troy Cracknell each scored 11 points. Williams and Monteiro were named to the PBC All-Tournament team, while Williams picked up MVP honors.
Augusta started on a 10-0 run and had Christenberry Fieldhouse on its feet. After seven minutes into the first half, AU still held a 10-point advantage with a 20-10 score. USCA went on a 15-9 run of their own to get back into a four-point game down to the five minute mark. Regaining the momentum and a safe lead, Augusta hit back-to-back treys from Myers and Cracknell to go up 44-32. Cracknell came off the Jaguar bench and hit three fast treys, as AU carried a 47-37 lead into halftime.
Augusta outrebounded the Pacers by four and shot 58.9 percent from the floor.
The first two baskets of the second half went to Augusta, but the Pacers pushed the pace and trailed by six at the 12:17 mark. Under three minutes, the Jags were up 82-78 and held off USCA to win the conference tourney finals.
AU's postseason seeding and opponent will be announced tonight, Sunday, March 10 via a live selection show on NCAA.com at 10:30 p.m. ET.
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