Williams leads Augusta in exhibition game upset win over South Carolina

Tyvez Monroe nailed the game winner in Friday's exhibition game.

Augusta earned a 77-72 exhibition game upset win over South Carolina Friday when senior Tyvez Monroe drained an 18 footer off of one dribble after receiving a sweet feed from freshman Tyree Myers to give the Jaguars a 73-72 lead over the Gamecocks with 37 seconds remaining. Myers, who scored 16 points on 5 for 5 shooting (3 for 3 from deep), iced things with 4 made free throws in the final 30 seconds.



Senior center Deane Williams led Augusta with 17 points and 13 rebounds. The senior had this to say about his ability to play well with 4 fouls during the final 6 minutes:

"I think it was just trusting my teammates. Knowing that they've got my back and I've got theirs. That's all it came down to. Nothing more complicated than that," Williams told me after the game.

Deane Williams (24) did it all in Friday's win.

At 6-8, Williams can be a force. He averaged 13 points and 8 rebounds last season, and he most certainly did have the backs of his teammates Friday. He was the best player on the court which included preseason all SEC first teamer Chris Silva, the 6-9 returning co-defensive player of the year in the league.

Williams made two first half threes, and twice during the second half he made long two pointers with the shot clock running down. But it was his defense, his rebounding, and his overall leadership that made the biggest difference. The Jaguars actually out rebounded (40-37) their larger opponent with a lineup that usually featured three 6-0 players and nobody besides Williams taller than 6-4.