Saints Force Double Overtime but Fall to #7 ASU
DAHLONEGA, GA -North Georgia used a buzzer
beater three-pointer from LaBrian Lyons to force double overtime
before falling to 7th-ranked Augusta State University 107-100
Saturday evening in Peach Belt Conference action.
With time running out in regulation, the Saints found themselves
down five points with one minute remaining before going on a 5-0
run to tie the game 76-76 and force overtime with the 7th-ranked
team in the country.
In the first overtime, North Georgia raced out to a six-point lead
at 82-76 and appeared to have the game in control before the
Jaguars hit back-to-back three-pointers and converted a four-point
play to take the lead right back at 83-82.
With eight seconds remaining, the Saints found themselves down
three points with the length of the floor to go. Lyons wasted
little time bringing the ball across half court and letting a
three-pointer fly from the top of the key with one second
remaining. Memorial Hall erupted as the ball found nothing but net,
knotting the score 90-90 and forcing double overtime.
The Saints led for a brief moment in the second extra period on a
three-pointer from Matthew Maddox with 3:34 remaining to make it
95-94, but the Jaguars responded with a 13-5 run to end the game
and escape with the seven-point victory.
Anthony Rowe led the Saints with a game-high 30 points and 13
rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season. Lyons followed
with 21 points, while Michael Moynihan chipped in 17 points and
five assists.
Five Augusta State players scored in double figures as Ben Madgen
led the way with 29 points, follwed by Daniel Dixon with 19, Garret
Siler with 16, and Greg Hire with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Caleb
Brown rounded out the players in double figures for the Jaguars
with 12 points on 5-11 shooting.
North Georgia could do little right from the free throw line,
shooting 61.5 percent (24-39), while Augusta State was 72.2 percent
(26-36) from the charity stripe.
After losing the rebounding battle in the first half, the Saints
edged the Jaguars 46-45 on the boards, while ASU shot 37.5 percent
from behind the arc and North Georgia managed 32 percent from long
range.
The Saints (8-5, 2-5 PBC) will look to get back on track as they
travel to Armstrong Atlantic Monday evening for a 7:30 tip-off with
the Pirates.