Friday, March 4, 2005

NORTH GEORGIA ADVANCES TO SSAC SEMIFINALS

MARIETTA, Ga. – The second-seeded North Georgia College & State University Saints defeated the seventh-seeded Auburn University Montgomery Senators for the third time this season with an 81-69 victory in the first round of the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament on Thursday night.

The Senators jumped to an early 12-2 lead over North Georgia, but saw the Saints go on a 39-18 run to close out the first half and take a 41-30 halftime break. The second half did not get much better for AUM, as they were outscored 13-6 to open the final 20 minutes putting themselves down 54-36.

The Senators closed to within 76-64 with 4:03 remaining following a technical foul on Matt Causey and four free throws from Joseph Manuel , before closing the gap to 78-67 with 2:20 remaining – the closest they would get to the lead.

The Senators shot just 37.5 (24-for-64) percent from the floor, while hitting just 28.6 (8-for-28) from behind the three-point line.

The Saints shot 48 (24-for-50) percent from the floor, while hitting just 35 (7-for-20) percent from behind the arc. The Saints also connected on 81.3 (26-for-32) percent from the free throw line.

Causey, the Southern States Athletic Conference Player of the Year, led North Georgia with 26 points. Mark Trust added 16 points and five rebounds. Bryce Brickhouse chipped in with 14 points and six rebounds, while Mark Causey added 12 points and seven rebounds in the victory.

Joseph Manuel led AUM with 24 points, while James Gambrell chipped in with 16 points and 11 rebounds in his final game as a Senator. Derrick Russell also chipped in 11 points and five rebounds in his final game as a Senator in the loss.

North Georgia (23-9) advances to face Faulkner University tomorrow at 6 pm in the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals.

AUM closes out the season at 14-18.

Box Score

Return to Men's Basketball