AUGUSTA, Ga. – Augusta State jumped out to a 41-22 halftime lead Saturday night and posted an 81-52 victory over Armstrong Atlantic State in the Peach Belt Conference opener for both teams in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

With the victory, the No. 5 Jaguars improved to 6-0 on the season and extended the program's best start since the 1972-73 season. The win was the 17th consecutive at home for ASU, and the 14th straight, regular-season home win. The victory was also the seventh straight in the series with the Pirates.

Senior guards Ben Madgen and Daniel Dixon booked 14 points each and Fred Brathwaite turned in 13 points. Junior guard Caleb Brown tallied 11 points and seven rebounds off the bench, while Greg Hire just missed a double-double, registering 10 points, a game-high nine rebounds and five assists.

Chris Vanlandingham paced the Pirates (2-3, 0-1 PBC) with 12 points and Patrick Shokpeka and David Pruett added 11 and 10 each.

The Jags shot 55 percent in the opening 20 minutes and drained a season-high nine 3-pointers in the game, including four from Dixon.

ASU, which led by as much as 38 in the second half, outrebounded Armstrong 48-23 and posted a season-high seven blocks. AASU's 52 points were the fewest allowed by ASU on the season.

The Jags hit the road next weekend, breaking from conference play to take on Tusculum on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 4:00 p.m., in Greeneville, Tenn.