EVANSVILLE, IN –The Augusta University men's basketball defeated the University of Indiana (PA) Crimson Hawks in the NCAA National semifinals.
 
Ja'Queze Kirby started the game with a bang, forcing a turnover, carding a steal, and dunking for the first points of the night.
 
The game stayed tight until Darren Lucas-White hit a three-pointer with 8:31 left in the first half to give the Jags a 21-17 lead.
 
IUP's Armoni Foster immediately answered with a layup to cut the lead to 2.  An offensive foul by Tyshaun Crawford with 6:39 left to play was then upgraded to a Flagrant 1. Two free-throws by the Crimson Nighthawks tied the game at 21. IUP quickly took a 5 point lead.
 
A dunk from Crawford and a made three-point bucket from Kirby tied the game at 28. Another made layup by Crawford put the Jags up 2 with 3 minutes left in the first period. After a tight first half, both teams went to the locker room dead-locked at 32.
 
Kirby again started scoring in the period off an inbounds feed from Tyree Myers. AU opened up a seven point lead with just under 15 minutes to play. Miguel Arnold stretched the lead to 8 with a shot beyond the arc.
 
For the rest of the half, Tyshaun Crawford showed his dominance in the paint. The Griffin, Ga native was a perfect 12-12 from the field, carding 25 points and 14 rebounds. Crawford set the Elite Eight FG% record in a single game with 100% (12-12

Ja'Queze Kirby added 16 points and 5 rebounds.

The Jaguars will take on Northwest Missouri State on Saturday at 3pm ET. The game will be aired on CBS.

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