Wednesday, January 25, 2006

JAGUARS USE LATE RALLY TO DEFEAT SAINTS 89-86

Augusta, Ga.-- Augusta State scored 52 points in the second half Wednesday night to pick up an 89-86 come-from-behind victory in a Peach Belt Conference contest with North Georgia.

The Jaguars (9-8, 5-5 PBC), fresh off a 64-58 road victory over league-leading Armstrong Atlantic State on Monday, won for the fifth time in the past six games. ASU withstood the Saints shooting 52.1 percent from the field, including a sizzling 61.9 percent in the first half.

North Georgia led by as much as 10 in the first half and matched its largest advantage on a pair of free throws less than three minutes into the second. Trailing by six nearing the midway point of the second half, the Jags rattled off an 11-0 run to go up by five at 64-59 on a tip in by Tyrekus Bowman at the 11:04 mark.

The Saints tied the game on two separate occasions, then grabbed an 80-79 lead on a Matt Causey steal and layup with 4:22 remaining. The basket turned out to be their last field goal of the game, as the Jags countered with a Bowman layup at the 2:32 mark and never trailed again. Karim Telfer and Demetrius Howard each hit a pair of free throws after a Saints’ technical to put ASU ahead by five with 2:09 to go.

After Causey hit five consecutive free throws to offset a Telfer layup, Buzz Wehunt had a chance to tie the game with :26 remaining. He made the first, but missed the second attempt. Causey’s off-balance, three-point attempt as the clock ran out was off the mark.

Causey poured in a game-high 29 points for NGCSU (9-7, 6-5 PBC). Mark Causey added 17 and Wehunt had 13 off the bench.

Bowman paced the Jags with 26 points and 11 rebounds, his fifth double-double of the season. Telfer matched his season high with 21 points and handed out six assists, while senior forward Dean Brebner tallied 15 points. Sophomore guard Demetrius Howard chipped in 11 off the bench.

ASU set season highs in points scored (89), in free throws made (33) and in free-throw percentage (.868).

North Georgia returns to action this weekend as they host USC Aiken for a 5:00 p.m. game Saturday in Memorial Gymnasium.

Box Score

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