ASU Jaguars

ASU Tops First Region Poll

// January 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

Augusta State is ranked first in the initial Southeast Region poll of the 2009-10 regular season, released Wednesday afternoon by the NCAA.

The Jaguars are one of four Peach Belt Conference schools to appear in the first regional rankings, joining Georgia College & State, Francis Marion and North Georgia. ASU owns a 2-0 record against the trio.

The top eight teams in the final Southeast Region poll of the regular season will earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

“From day one, we’ve taken a lot of pride in who we play and the quality of our schedule,” said ASU head coach Dip Metress. “It prepares you as the season goes along and definitely benefits you down the stretch each year. There’s a ways to go in the regular season, but it’s a nice position to be in.”

The Jags, currently ranked No. 8 in the nation, sit at 15-2 overall and 7-1 in the PBC. ASU travels to Americus and Columbus, Ga., this weekend to take on Georgia Southwestern and Columbus State, respectively.

The Jags meet the Hurricanes in the Storm Dome on Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m., and match up with the Cougars in the Lumpkin Center on Saturday, March 30 at 3:30 p.m.

USC Aiken Upends No. 6 Jags, 71-68

// January 25th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

USC Aiken sophomore guard Sterling Council nailed a jumper with 9.5 seconds left Monday night to deliver USC Aiken to a 71-68 upset victory over No. 6 Augusta State in the Convocation Center.

After an ASU turnover, the Pacers’ Byron Faison hit a pair of free throws with three seconds remaining to put USCA up 71-68. The Jags’ long pass was deflected to ASU senior guard Ben Madgen, but his desperation attempt was well short as part of the crowd of 3,298 stormed the floor.

Madgen tallied a game-high 24 points and senior forward Fred Brathwaite added 16 points. Daniel Dixon chipped in nine points — all in the first half — and managed four assists and three steals.

Council paced USC Aiken with 15 points and Seth Leonard posted 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

The loss dropped ASU to 15-2 overall and 7-1 in the Peach Belt Conference while the Pacers improved to 12-6 and 7-4, respectively. The Jags fell to 0-3 vs. the Pacers in the Convocation Center. In all three contests, ASU was ranked in the top 10.

With the upset, USCA snapped the Jags’ 16-game, PBC winning streak — two shy of the league record — and their streak of seven straight conference road wins.

In a game that featured four ties and 10 lead changes, Greg Hire scored on a three-play to put ASU ahead 68-65 with 1:28 left. Kevin Willis answered with a putback to pull the hosts within 68-67. The Pacers then forced an ASU turnover on the ensuing inbounds play and Council’s basket proved to be the game-winner.

ASU travels to Americus, Ga., on Thursday Jan. 28 to take on Georgia Southwestern in a PBC contest at 7:30 p.m.

No. 11 VSU Holds Off No. 1 Jags

// January 16th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

No. 11 Valdosta State shot 55.4 percent for the game and dealt the Jaguars its first loss of the season with an 81-75 victory over top-ranked Augusta State Saturday in a non-conference matchup in Valdosta, Ga.

For the Jags, senior guard Fred Brathwaite led the team booking a double-double with a game-high 25 points and a game-high 10 rebounds. Seniors Ben Madgen and Alex Smith added 18 points each. .

Tyrone Curnell led the Blazers with 23 points and nine rebounds while also dishing out three assists and blocking two shots. Kevin Harris poured in 18 points, in just 16 minutes of action, while Ricardo Lewis added 13.

With the victory, the Blazers improved to 16-2 overall, while the loss dropped ASU to 14-1 on the season.

Madgen opened the scoring with a jumper for Augusta State. Smith scored on a dunk with 17:14 to go in the first half to give the Jaguars their final lead of the game as VSU scored the next nine points of the contest to put Valdosta State up 11-4.

ASU fought back, tying the game at 11 a minute later, only to have the Blazers respond with 16-6 spurt to grab the lead for good. Madgen kept the Jaguars in the game with a pair of baskets, but Billy McShepard added a lay-up for VSU and Lewis hit a three with 8:10 remaining in the half to put VSU up 27-17.

ASU responded with a run of its own and closed to within 31-28 over the closing minutes of the half, only to have Valdosta State score eight of the final nine points of the frame to grab a 39-29 halftime lead.

Augusta State came out hot in the second half as it connected on seven of its first 11 shots of the frame. A Brathwaite jumper just two and a half minutes into the half, cut the Jaguar deficit to three points. Valdosta State parried the run with one of its own as it scored 10 out of the next 14 for a 51-42 lead with 14:44 remaining.

The final ASU run of the night saw the Jaguars close to within three with 1:13 to play, but Curnell scored on a lay-up and Lewis connected on three-of-four free throws to seal the victory.

The Blazers shot 55.4 percent from the floor in the game and committed just eight turnovers. The Jags shot 47.3 percent from the field and owned the rebounding edge 32-29.

The No. 1 Jags host UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, Jan. 20 for a Peach Belt Conference contest at 7:30 p.m., in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

ASU Reaches Top Of National Rankings

// January 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

The Augusta State men’s basketball program ascended to the top of the national rankings Tuesday in the seventh NABC/Coaches Poll of the 2009-10 season, according to a release from the NABC national office in Kansas City, Mo.

The ranking — the highest in ASU history for any of the Jaguars’ 11 varsity sports — marks the first time in the Peach Belt Conference’s 20-year history that a men’s basketball team has been ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“First and foremost, all the credit for this tremendous accomplishment goes straight to our players,” said sixth-year ASU head coach Dip Metress. “Without the caliber of players and students we’ve been able to attract to our program, this wouldn’t be possible. It’s quite an honor and a heck of a feather in our cap, but we have to stay focused. We’ve got a long way to go and a lot more that we want to accomplish.”

The Jaguars, who debuted at No. 6 in the first regular-season poll and gained one spot in each of the next three polls, are off to a 13-0 start following an 89-62 win over Francis Marion on Saturday, Jan. 9. The 13 consecutive wins mark the best start in the 45-year history of the program.

With the ranking, ASU has now appeared in the top 25 for a school-record 43 consecutive weeks, dating back to the 2006-07 campaign. The Jaguars have been ranked among the nation’s top 10 in 22 of the last 23 polls, and reached the top five for the 13th time under head coach Dip Metress.

ASU is one of two Peach Belt Conference members ranked among the top 20. League newcomer Montevallo is ranked No. 13, an improvement of two spots from the Falcons’ No. 15 ranking on Jan. 5.

The Jags travel to Armstrong Atlantic State in Savannah, Ga., for a 7:30 p.m., matchup on Wednesday, Jan. 13.

ASU’s Madgen Lands POTW Honors

// January 11th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

Augusta State senior Ben Madgen was named the Peach Belt Conference’s Player-of-the-Week Monday afternoon, according to an announcement from the league office.

The award is the second of the season and the fifth in the career of the 6-4, 185-pound senior guard from Williamstown, Australia.

Madgen enjoyed a record-breaking week while leading the third-ranked Jaguars to three victories. On Monday, Jan. 4 in Dahlonega, Ga., Madgen posted 17 points and five rebounds while breaking the Peach Belt Conference’s all-time scoring record of 1,863 points in an 85-62 victory at North Georgia.

He followed up that effort with 21 points and three assists in a 97-67 victory over Flagler on Wednesday, Jan. 6 in Christenberry Fieldhouse, and then rounded out the week with 22 points and five rebounds in an 89-62 win over Francis Marion on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Madgen came out sizzling in the first half against the Patriots, connecting on his first four field-goal attempts and scoring nine points in the first 6:10 of the game. With the first of two free throws at the 13:50 mark of the first half, Madgen overtook former Jaguar standout Derek Stewart (1,895 points) as ASU’s all-time leading scorer and received the game ball from head coach Dip Metress in a brief ceremony at mid-court.

With his effort, he eclipsed the 1,900-point mark, finishing the contest with 1,909 points. For the week, he shot 19-of-35 from the field (.543), 8-of-14 from 3-point range (.571) and 14-of-15 from the charity stripe (.933). He also averaged 4.3 rpg., along with 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals.

The Jags travel to Savannah, Ga., on Wednesday, Jan. 13 to take on Armstrong Atlantic State in a PBC doubleheader. The women’s contest is slated for 5:30 p.m., with the men’s tipoff to follow at 7:30 p.m.

Historic Night For Jaguars

// January 9th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

Augusta State senior guard Ben Madgen broke the school’s career scoring record and the No. 3 Jaguars extended their winning streak to 13 in a row with an 89-62 Peach Belt Conference victory over Francis Marion Saturday night in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

With the first of two free throws at the 13:50 mark of the first half, Madgen overtook former Jaguar standout Derek Stewart as ASU’s all-time leading scorer and received the game ball from head coach Dip Metress in a brief ceremony at mid-court.

The senior guard and Williamstown, Australia native scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Fellow backcourt mate Daniel Dixon posted his second double-double of the season, registering 20 points and a career-high 11 assists and six steals.

Alex Smith netted 16 points and Fred Brathwaite had 15 points and six rebounds. Greg Hire snagged a game-high 11 rebounds and added three steals.

Kendrick Robinson paced Francis Marion with 14 points and Kaylan Anderson added 11 off the bench. The Patriots, who entered the contest with just one loss, fell to 11-2 overall and 3-1 in the PBC.

With the victory, the Jags extended the best start in school history, improving to 13-0 overall and 5-0 in the PBC. ASU stretched its regular-season winning streak to 22 games and its conference streak to 14 straight. The victory was also the 22nd straight home win for the Jags and the 19th straight home conference win.

ASU never trailed, jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first 1:10 of the game behind five quick points from Madgen. After a three-point play from FMU’s Robinson, Madgen nailed a 3-pointer from the right corner off a feed from Hire to tie the school record of 1,895 points.

The Patriots answered with a trey before ASU responded with 9-0 run. Madgen capped the spurt by canning a pair of free throws, the first of which gave him the all-time scoring mark and put the Jags ahead 21-6 just 6:10 into the game.

After FMU cut its deficit to seven, ASU ran off nine straight points to open up its biggest lead of the half on a Dixon trey with 2:41 left. The Patriots scored the last six points of the half to pull within 45-33 at the break.

A 7-2 run to start the second half got FMU within 47-40, only to have the Jags counter with an 18-1 run to open up a 24-point lead with 12:20 remaining. ASU led by as many as 34 with 2:45 left.

The Jags hit the road for two straight games, traveling to Savannah, Ga., to take on Armstrong Atlantic State on Wednesday, Jan. 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Jaguars Set To Be Honored

// January 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

Augusta State Athletics officials announced Thursday the Jaguar men’s basketball program will be recognized during Saturday’s Peach Belt Conference matchup with Francis Marion.

The 2008-09 squad, which registered a school-record 30 wins en route to the best season in school history, will be honored with a ring and banner ceremony just prior to tip-off at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Under head coach Dip Metress, the Jags became the first team in five years to capture both the Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship and the Peach Belt Conference Tournament title.

ASU captured the NCAA Southeast Regional championship in Christenberry Fieldhouse with an 85-57 victory over USC Aiken. ASU was nationally-ranked for the entire season — 15 consecutive weeks — and reached its highest ranking in school history at No. 3.

The Jags made their second straight trip to the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass., advancing to their second straight Final Four.

Senior center Garret Siler and junior guard Ben Madgen were each named an All-American by three different organizations. Madgen was selected the NCAA Southeast Regional Player-of-the-Year while Siler earned Southeast Regional Most Outstanding Player honors. Siler and Madgen, along with junior guard/forward Fred Brathwaite, were all-conference selections as well.

At 12-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play, the 2009-10 edition of the Jags is off to the best start in school history. ASU will face a Patriot squad which boasts an 11-1 overall record and 3-0 mark in the league. FMU has won six in a row since suffering its lone loss at Apprentice School on Nov. 24, 2009.

Strong Second Half Sparks Jags

// January 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

Augusta State exploded for a season-high 58 points in the second half Wednesday night and rolled to a 97-67 Peach Belt Conference victory over Flagler in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Three Jaguars reached the 20-point mark, including Ben Madgen, who drilled four 3-pointers and finished with 21 points. Fred Brathwaite booked 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks, while Daniel Dixon hit four 3-pointers and netted a season-high 20 points — all in the second half — and added five assists and three steals.

Senior forward Alex Smith registered 15 points in the first 13:03 of the game and collected five rebounds and four assists. Senior forward Greg Hire pitched in six points, five assists and four rebounds.

Junior guard John Pietkiewicz paced the Saints (5-5, 1-1) with a game-high 22 points, and Chad July managed 10 points.

With the victory, the third-ranked Jags extended the best start in school history, improving to 12-0 overall and 4-0 in the PBC. ASU stretched its regular-season winning streak to 21 games and its conference streak to 13 straight. The victory was also the 21st straight home win for the Jags and the 18th straight home conference win.

Leading 39-33 at the break, ASU connected on 12 of its first 15 attempts in the second half and shot nearly 64 percent after halftime. The Jags set season highs for points scored, 3-pointers made (10) and assists (25). The Jags recorded a season-low six turnovers, including just one in the second half.

Madgen’s effort moved the Williamstown, Australia native within nine points of establishing a new ASU scoring record. With 1,887 career points, he needs only eight points to match the all-time mark set by former Jaguar standout Derek Stewart (1,895), who played from 1989-93.

ASU’s 97 points were the most scored in Christenberry Fieldhouse since a 103-56 victory over UNC Pembroke on Jan. 18, 2003, a span of 95 home games.

The contest marked the first-ever meeting between the Jags and Saints.

The Jags host Francis Marion (11-1, 3-0) on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 7:30 p.m., in Christenberry Fieldhouse.