Young Harris, Ga. – The Augusta University Men's Basketball team defeated the Young Harris Mountain Lions 83-79 in a conference game. The Jags improve to 9-4 on the season with a 4-1 mark in conference action. Young Harris drops to 3-10 overall and fall to 1-4 in Peach Belt games.
Augusta found themselves trailing 42-38 at the end of the first half of play. Their fortunes didn't change until 16:29 into the second quarter, when Troy Cracknell made a jumper to tie the game up at 47 apiece.
Things remained tied for well over a minute until Tyree Myers tossed in a three to give Augusta its first lead since the 15 minute mark of the first half. The jags gained a little distance from their foes, but Young Harris battled back into it, tie things up at 70-70 with just over four minutes left in regulation.
30 second later, Rafael Monteiro drew a foul and knocked in the ensuing free throws to regain the lead for the Jags, this time for keeps. The defense took care of the rest, holding the Mountain Lions to no field goals within the last two minutes.
The Jaguars were 28-of-58 (48.3%) from the field, including nine-for-26 from down town, and 18-of-26 (69.2%) from the free throw line. A stat of note was the Jags' 17 points off of turnovers to the Mountain Lions' four.
Cracknell had a career night, going 10-for-16 from the floor, including six three-pointers, for 29 points on the night. Monteiro turned in another quality performance, scoring 18 points and picking up 8 rebounds.
Myers and Tyshaun Crawford both had double-doubles in the contest, with Crawford scoring 13 points and snagging a team high 13 rebounds, with Myers scoring 11 points and dishing out a team leading 11 assists.
The Jags take on the Francis Marion Patriots for their next game as the return to the Christenberry Fieldhouse on January 15th at 5:30 p.m.