AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State junior forward Travis Keels dropped in a career-high 21 points and freshman point guard D'Angelo Boyce booked his first double-double with 15 points and 11 assists to spur the Jaguars to a 72-53 Peach Belt Conference victory over North Georgia in Christenberry Fieldhouse Saturday night.
The win lifted ASU to 6-6 overall, 2-2 in the Peach Belt Conference. The Saints, coming off a victory at Clayton State, fell to 7-6, 2-1.
The teams kept swapping the lead in the first half, as North Georgia muscled their way to the free throw line (7-of-8) while Augusta State shot 50 percent from the floor to go into the half up 32-27.
But the big play of the first period had nothing to do with the score. Sophomore forward Harold Doby, the Jags' leading scorer, was called for a flagrant foul and ejected from the game with 9:16 to go until half. But that only spurred the Jags, in front of a spirited crowd of 1,145, to come out hot in the second half. A 7-0 run that included a thunderous dunk by Keels and a fast break layup by Boyce off a steal by O'Neal Armstrong gave ASU a comfortable 43-33 lead that was never really challenged afterwards.
ASU, which went with a lineup change that included Boyce and fellow freshman Devonte Thomas, shot a season-high 53.4 percent from the field on 31-of-58 shooting, including 6-of-12 from behind the arc as five different Jags made a three-ball. They also racked up nine steals, leading the turnover battle 19-8. NGCSU made 18-of-47 shots to go 38.3 percent from the floor, and 3-of-13 (23.1 percent) on treys.
Keels led all scorers on 10-of-14 shooting and added three blocks. Boyce, making his fourth start, tallied career highs in points and assists. Freshman forward Devon Wright-Nelson added 11 points along with Armstrong, who went 5-of-7 for the night and chalked up four steals.
The Saints were led by Scott Windom's 18 points, and 14 from Pat Moynihan.
ASU closes out its four-game homestand when it hosts Lander on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 7:30 p.m., in Christenberry Fieldhouse.
