BLUFTON, SC – The Augusta University men's basketball team opened conference play at USC Beaufort Wednesday night. The Jaguars fell 114-112 in the high-scoring affair. Ja'Queze Kirby had a career-high 30 points. David Viti also turned in a career-high, scoring 27 points. This was the first time the two teams had ever played each other. AU travels to face Columbus State on Saturday, Jan 6 at 3:30 pm.   
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Augusta (7-4)
FG% 61.3
3PT% 28.6
FT% 80
 
USC Beaufort (8-1)
FG% 556
3PT% 51.9
FT% 55.6


Five different Jaguars were in double figures. Kirby turned in a 30-point, nine-rebound performance in the game. Viti added 27 points. Freshman Zyere Edwards scored a season-high 15 points to go along with three steals and three assists. Maximillian Amadasun and Timmy Sellers both tallied 10 points.

USC Beaufort struck first, opening the game with a shot from beyond the arc. The Sand Sharks continued the offensive press, using another triple to take a 20-10 lead five minutes into the game. A steal and made bucket from Edwards narrowed the score to 22-25. Sharp shooting from the home team put pressure on Augusta - USC  Beaufort extended the lead to as many as 14 points in the half. Free throw shooting kept AU close in the first half, with 16 of the team's 51 first-half points coming from the charity stripe.
 
After coming from behind 61-55 at halftime, AU took its first lead of the game off a made layup from Edwards with 11:30 left to play. A layup from Viti put AU up 97-93 with eight minutes left. USCB answered with a 10-3 run over the next two minutes to take the lead for good. AU would pull within one with 12 seconds in the game but fell 114-112 in the high-scoring affair.

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