Miller and Sherrill add to sensational senior seasons

USMMA's Matt Miller scored 26 points to lead the Mariners to a victory Saturday.

USMMA's Matt Miller, who played his high school ball in Augusta for the GAIS Eagles homeschool team, expressed optimism about his team's fortunes in a recent AugBball interview that I posted after a hot individual start to his senior season. At the time, the 1,000 point scorer was coming off of a 29 point outburst against SUNY Maritime, but his Mariners had managed only one win in their first seven games. He described how the team was missing players due to injury and the special "sea term" all USMMA sophomores and juniors take that collides with the beginning stages of basketball practice every season.

"We finally have everybody back and playing together. I think it just takes some time to get used to playing with each other and getting some rhythm," Miller said when I asked him if his spirits were still high despite the early losses.

Click here to see the full highlights and story of Miller's game winner and 20 point outing versus rival Coast Guard.

Matt's patience seems to be paying off because after one more loss following our interview, USMMA has run off three consecutive victories, including Saturday's 87-86 overtime win over Widener in which Miller scored 26 points while making 9 of his 13 field goals, including 6 of his 8 threes. The left handed guard who is averaging 19 points per game made all 6 of his second half field goal attempts.



Miller converts a pair of first half buckets in Saturday's win over Widener.


Matt's maturity and his consistency through the ups and downs of this season reveal his steadfast character. He has been among the team's leaders since arriving on campus. When the Mariners resume play in January, I won't be surprised if the team continues to build on its recent success.

Sherrill scores 42 at North Georgia but Augusta still searches for first conference win

Top of the key for threeeeeeeee! Jags in a tight contest at North Georgia on the road #GoJags

A video posted by Augusta University Athletics (@augustajags) on Dec 16, 2016 at 6:24pm PST

Another consistent leader who is in the middle of a remarkable senior campaign, Augusta University's Keshun Sherrill, will try to help his team bounce back from Friday's 102-93 loss at North Georgia when the Jaguars visit Columbus State Monday at 7:30 (live stream link) in the second leg of a Peach Belt Conference opening pair of road games before the team breaks for the holidays.

Sherrill scored a season high 42 points in Friday's loss, making 14 of 25 field goals, 5 of 10 threes, and 9 of 12 free throws. The 5'8" All American and All Peach Belt Conference guard has scored more than 20 points in every game except one this season. And his shooting percentages are mind boggling, making 51% of his field goals, 48% of his threes, and 88% of his free throws on 9 attempts per game.

Augusta (7-2, 0-1) and Columbus State (6-1, 0-1) will both try to notch their first conference win Monday after the Cougars dropped a game to Flagler over the weekend.