Men: No. 22 Augusta State 83, AASU 82; Women's: Augusta 79, AASU 67

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 1-12-08

Men's College Basketball: No. 22 Augusta State 83, AASU 82
Women's College Basketball: Augusta State 79, AASU 67

SAVANNAH, Ga. (January 12) – Steve Smith’s single free throw with 37 seconds left in overtime gave No. 22-ranked Augusta State an 83-82 Peach Belt Conference men’s basketball victory over host Armstrong Atlantic State on Saturday evening, completing a doubleheader sweep for the Jaguars over the Pirates. The Augusta State women’s team picked up an 79-67 victory over the Lady Pirates.

The Jaguars (9-3, 4-1 PBC) forced overtime when Ben Madgen found a wide-open Garret Siler for a dunk with 0.5 seconds left, tying the score at 71-all. The Pirates (9-3, 3-2 PBC) had the ball with 37 seconds left but Corey Johnson’s baseline jumper was blocked from behind with three seconds remaining. AASU had one final crack at a possible game-winner, but Jamaal Galloway’s three-pointer missed the rim - causing a shot clock violation - giving the ball and the victory to Augusta State. The win snapped AASU’s nine-game home winning streak and six-game overall winning streak, and the loss was just the third in the last 26 games for the Pirates at home – with two of those losses coming to Augusta State.

Ben Madgen led a quartet of Augusta State players in double figures with 28 points, including an unconscious 17-of-18 shots from the free throw line. Garret Siler finished with 21 points and nine rebounds before fouling out in overtime, while Tyrekus “A.J.” Bowman needed overtime to record his 32nd consecutive game in double figures and ended the night with 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Armstrong Atlantic was led by Corey Johnson’s season-high 27 points, including six three-pointers, while senior Jamaal Galloway came off the bench to record 15 points and senior William Kane chipped in 12 points. The Jaguars owned the rebounding edge on the night, 40-33, and also had the edge at the foul line, shooting 35 free throws to the Pirates’ 20. The Pirates finished the night with 14 three-pointers, the most for AASU since January 28, 2006, in a win over Columbus State. The 30 three-point attempts were one off the school single-game record.

In the women’s contest, Nicole Mealing’s career night for Augusta State (9-3, 3-2 PBC) helped the Lady Jaguars snap host AASU (9-3, 3-2 PBC) and its five-game winning streak with a 79-67 victory. Mealing hit 7-of-8 three-pointers, tying a school record for the most three-pointers made in a contest, en route to a career-high 25 points and 10 rebounds. Her first two three-pointers helped Augusta State erase an early 16-6 AASU lead, then her third three-pointer of the first half gave Augusta State a 23-21 lead with 8:40 left until halftime. The Lady Jaguars took a five-point lead into halftime, 38-33, then held the Lady Pirates to just 32 percent shooting in the second half to take the win.

Deo Ngulela added 13 points and eight assists for the Lady Jaguars (9-3, 3-2 PBC), while the Lady Pirates were led by senior Kaneetha Gordon’s 24 points and 13 rebounds and sophomore Dartayvia Thomas’ first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The loss was AASU’s first at home during the 2007-08 season.

The Pirates return to action on Wednesday, January 16, with a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader at GCSU. Augusta State returns to action on January 16 as well, hosting Lander in a Peach Belt Conference doubleheader.

- Pirates -