Friday, December 11, 2020

Reviewing Augusta's Season Opening Win and Previewing Saturday's Game against Emmanuel College

Tyree Myers - Augusta

Augusta University grabbed the #23 spot in the week one installment of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) national rankings after the Jaguars bolted to a 1-0 start by overcoming a 15-point halftime deficit to top Lander 87-72 at home last Wednesday. Augusta was led by Darren Lucas-White, who put together a masterpiece of an all around performance on both ends. The junior scored 22 points on 9-11 field goal shooting while grabbing 8 rebounds and nabbing 5 steals.



During the comeback Lucas-White, fellow junior Tyree Myers and sophomore Lee Flenor conducted a clinic in aggressive defense, exceptional effort and offensive rebounding. The effort transformed Lander’s 43-28 halftime lead into a 46-45 advantage for Augusta just 5 minutes and 21 seconds into the second half.



Augusta out-rebounded Lander 34-22 and committed only 6 turnovers while forcing Lander into 13.

Lee Flenor - Augusta

Once Augusta started rolling, nothing would get in their way as the Jaguars outscored the Bearcats 59-29 in the second half. Junior Miguel Arnold, who was held scoreless in the first half, poured in 16 second half points as he found his rhythm coming off of screens, elevating and knocking down beautiful jump shots, making 7 of his 12 second half attempts.



Speaking of shooting accuracy, Augusta also got it from two new sources in the win. First was 7’1” junior center Tyshaun Crawford (16 points), who is no stranger to producing at a high rate for the Jaguars. After all, Crawford earned a second team All Peach Belt Conference spot last season after he averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds in conference play, and made 68% of his field goals (third best in NCAA Division II) on the season. But what was somewhat surprising last Wednesday was Crawford’s effectiveness at the free throw line, where he made 6 of 7 attempts after making only half of his free throws last season. Throw in his 5-6 field goal shooting (against 40 minutes of being double teamed) and his 9 rebounds and 2 blocks, and it’s easy to understand why the Peach Belt Conference coaches chose Crawford as one of the five players in the league to make this year's preseason all conference team.



Tyshaun Crawford was voted preseason First Team All Peach Belt Conference - Link to Report


Tyshaun Crawford - 7'1" Center - Augusta

Off the bench came freshman John Whitehead with more impressive output. The local (Glenn Hills High) product made 3 of his 4 three point attempts, including 2 in the first half while the Jaguars struggled to score. Whitehead was nearly the sixth Augusta player to reach double figures in the game.



In addition to being ranked in the top 25, Augusta was also chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Peach Belt Conference championship by the league’s coaches. Augusta will get the chance Saturday to make it two wins at home to start the season when Emmanuel College visits Christenberry Fieldhouse for a non-conference game set for a 3:00 P.M. tip-off. The game will also give the Jaguars a chance to wash the bad taste Emmanuel left in the mouths of Jaguar Nation last season when Tyonn Stuckey broke a 71-71 tie by banking in a thirty-footer off the backboard at the buzzer to stun the thousands of fifth graders in attendance for Education Day.



Emmanuel makes for a formidable foe. The Lions were chosen to finish first in the preseason Conference Carolinas coaches poll after finishing second in the regular season standings last season. Emmanuel posted an overall record of 18-12 last season while finishing 14-6 in league play.

Dip Metress - Head Coach - Augusta

Augusta finished last season 21-8 overall and 16-4 in Peach Belt play, which was good for a second place finish in the conference, as well as a #4 seed in the Southeast Region of the 64-team NCAA Division II tournament. The Jaguars have qualified for the “big dance” in three of the last four seasons, and a total of ten times during head coach Dip Metress’s 14 seasons. Emmanuel last reach the dance in the 2018-19 season as the champion of the Conference Carolinas. During that same season Augusta earned Peach Belt Conferene regular season and conference tournament championships both, finishing the season as the #16 ranked team.

Post game interview video review with head coach Dip Metress after Augusta's season opening win



Full Broadcast of Augusta's 87-72 win over Lander, byAugBball's Charles McNeil (play-by-play), Chad Cook (color) and Seth Wesley (producer)



Augusta University Bell Ringer Podcast Episode Discussing Augusta's Win Over Lander with Carlos Rodriguez, David Bulla and Chad Cook

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