AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Junior guard Daniel Dixon helped rally Augusta State from deficits in both halves Saturday night as the fifth-ranked Jaguars opened the 2008-09 season with a 71-62 victory over Benedict in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Dixon came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points and notched seven assists and four steals. Ben Madgen booked 15 points, while Garret Siler and Fred Brathwaite had 11 points each. ASU improved to 4-1 in season openers under head coach Dip Metress and to 35-9 all-time in season openers. The Jags extended their home winning streak to nine games, dating back to last season.

Michael Holmes and Bennie Lewis scored 15 each for the Tigers, who dropped to 1-1 with the loss. Reserve guard Bobby Bowling netted 13 points.

The Jags trailed 30-19 with 2:27 left in the first half before senior guard Steve Smith sparked a furious charge with a 3-pointer at the 2:11 mark. Dixon then caught fire, scoring the last 11 points of the half, including a running trey at the buzzer to give ASU a 33-30 halftime lead.

The Jags led for the first 8:36 of the second half before Benedict's Bennie Lewis canned a jumper to put the Tigers in front 44-43. The visitors led by as much as six on two occasions before a Dixon steal and layup knotted the game at 55-all with 4:32 left.

The Tigers connected on a trey to go up 58-55 before a three-point play from Brathwaite tied the contest at 58-all at the 3:49 mark. Madgen and Siler scored on back-to-back possessions to push ASU ahead 65-59 with 1:40 to play and a Greg Hire layup with 40 seconds left put the Jags up by eight. Dixon's two free throws with 14 seconds left accounted for the final scoring.

ASU travels to Carrollton, Ga., to take on West Georgia on Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 p.m.