AUGUSTA, Ga.
– Augusta State senior guard/forward Fred Brathwaite scored a
game-high 18 points Wednesday as the Jaguars improved to 10-0 with
an 86-61 non-conference victory over Mount Olive in Christenberry
Fieldhouse.
With the victory, the third-ranked Jaguars extended the best start
in school history and stretched their home winning streak to 20
straight overall and to 17 straight in the regular season. The win
also marked the 19th consecutive regular-season win for the Jags,
who were playing for the first time in 11 days.
Seniors Alex Smith and Ben Madgen booked 16 points each, while
senior point guard Daniel Dixon posted 13 points and six assists.
Junior reserve guard Caleb Brown turned in 10 points, while senior
forward Greg Hire pulled down a game-high nine rebounds.
"We came in after 10 days (off) and we had to brush the rust
off," said ASU head coach Dip Metress, who earned his 125th
win against just 43 losses at the ASU helm. "We missed some
free throws early, but by the second half, we got into a better
flow. We had a good prep for the game. We start back with the
conference schedule on Monday. Going in (to the game) 10-0;
it's great – it can't beat it."
With his 16-point effort, Madgen moved within 15 points of Francis
Marion's Carlton Farr for the all-time Peach Belt Conference
scoring mark. Madgen, who currently stands at 1,849 career points,
is just 47 off the school scoring record, currently held by former
standout Derek Stewart.
Brandon Allen came off the bench to pace the Trojans (5-4) with 17
points. Craig Hayes added 15 and Derek Staton and Justin Foskey
chipped in 13 each.
ASU led just 22-17 before closing out the first half on a 19-6 run
over the final 6:42 to open up a 41-23 halftime advantage. The
Trojans got as close as 14 in the second half before the Jags
countered with a 14-4 spurt to take a commanding 24-point lead at
the 12:50 mark.
ASU, which shot 50 percent in the second half, posted a 53-26
advantage in rebounding and outscored the Trojans 40-16 in the
paint.
The Jags return to conference play on Monday, Jan. 4, traveling to
Dahlonega, Ga., to take on North Georgia at 7:30 p.m., in Memorial
Hall.
