SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Augusta State jumped out to a double-digit halftime lead and went on to post a 75-57 Peach Belt Conference victory over Armstrong Atlantic State Saturday afternoon in Alumni Arena. The contest marked the start of the conference schedule for both squads.
With the win, the No. 18 Jaguars moved to 6-0 on the season and to 1-0 in the PBC. The Pirates dropped to 3-2 and 0-1 in the league.
The victory was the Jaguars' 10th straight in the series and sixth in a row on the Pirates' home floor. For the fourth time in six games this season, ASU allowed 59 or less points.
Senior guard
George Johnson tallied a game-high 23 points, including 19 in the first half.
Senior forward
Franck Ndongo netted 14 points, while
Travis Keels and
Howard Brown matched their career highs in scoring with eight points each. Junior guard
Tye Beal had six points and a team-high six rebounds, while Keels dished out four assists and junior guard
O'Neal Armstrong added seven points and snagged three steals.
Grant Domsic led the Pirates with 12 points, Chris Edwards chipped in 11 and Jesse Wheeler managed 10. Keyshore Williams netted nine points and a game-high seven rebounds.
Tied at 13-13 at the 12:52 mark of the first half, the Jags' Armstrong canned a 3-pointer that capped a 22-3 run over a 10:08 stretch. ASU led 37-20 at the half and pushed its advantage to as much as 25 in the second half following a
Caleb Brown layup off a feed from Armstrong with 9:57 remaining.
The Jags shot 68.2 percent in the first half and 55.3 percent for the game. They were 17-of-18 (9.4 percent) at the charity stripe, including 15-of-16 in the second half. Armstrong shot just 5-of-24 (20.8 percent) from 3-point range and 40.4 percent overall.
The Jags will take a week off for final exams before facing Emmanuel in an non-conference matchup on Saturday, Dec. 11. Tipoff is slated for 4:00 p.m., in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
