AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State's Harold Doby tipped in on O'Neal Armstrong runner to force overtime and the Jaguars outlasted Mount Olive 73-70 Saturday in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
The victory marked the Jaguars' 200th win in Christenberry Fieldhouse, and extended ASU's regular-season, home winning streak to 41 games.
With the win, ASU evened its overall record at 5-5, while Mount Olive dropped to 7-3.
Doby, a sophomore forward from Augusta, scored a game-high 22 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, snagged three steals and registered a blocked shot. Senior guard Tye Beal booked 16 points with four assists, while freshman guard Devonte Thomas recorded 10 points and two steals off the bench.
Mount Olive was led by forward Craig Hayes' 18 points. Three other Trojans scored in double figures -- Derek Staton scored 16 points and handed out seven assists, Kason Cheeks booked 13 points, including 11-of-13 from the charity stripe, while Jordan McCain notched 10 points and Dory Hines had a game-high 11 rebounds.
ASU connected on 14-of-15 free-throw attempts in the opening half, including 6-6 by Harold Doby, to stay within reach. Trailing for the majority of the period, the Jags took their first lead at 21-20 on two free throws from Thomas at the 6:10 mark, and led by as much as seven after a pair of O'Neal Armstrong free throws with 54 seconds left en route to a 33-26 lead at the break.
ASU built its lead to as much as 13 after a Thomas basket at the 15:37 mark of the second half and still owned a 10-point advantage after a Beal trey with 9:17 left in regulation.
The Trojans, an NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional participant in 2009-10, then countered with a 16-7 spurt and closed to within one on a Staton trey with 4:50 left. Less than three minutes later, Staton drained his second 3-pointer of the game for a 65-all tie with just 1:58 to play.
Two free throws by Armstrong restored the Jags' lead at the 1:37 mark, putting ASU up 67-65. The Trojans answered when Hines' three-point play gave them a 68-67 lead with 1:12 left. After trading empty possessions, MOC's Jordan McCain made 1-of-2 free throws for a 69-67 Trojan lead with just: 07 to play. Armstrong dribbled the length of the court, and when his driving layup came off the rim, Doby came flying in to tip in the miss with one second remaining and force overtime.
The Trojans scored first in the extra session on a free throw from Cheeks, but didn't score again. Doby hit 1-of-2 free throws at the 2:40 mark to tie the game again at 70-all, and following a MOC turnover, freshman forward Devon Wright-Nelson connected on his only field goal of the game -- a 3-pointer from the left baseline -- to put ASU in front for good at 73-70 with 1:38 remaining. Neither team scored again, as the Trojans misfired on four 3-point attempts in the last 11 seconds.
ASU offset a poor shooting effort from the field (33.9 percent) by making a season-high 30 free throws in 37 attempts (81.1 percent), Overall, the game featured 51 fouls and 75 free-throw attempts. The Jags were out-rebounded 42-37, but matched their season low in turnovers with just seven compared to MOC's 16.
The Jags open their Peach Belt Conference home schedule on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012 when they host Armstrong Atlantic State at 7:30 p.m., in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
