Box Score WILSON, N.C - Despite leading for the first 12 minutes of the game, the Augusta University men's basketball team struggled on the defensive end in a 99-87 loss to Mount Olive in the first game of the Hampton Inn & Suites and Tru By Hilton 45 Second Classic hosted by Barton College Friday evening. 

In a high scoring affair, the Trojans would outscore the Jaguars 17-12 in the final eight minutes of the half and then tallied 51 second half points. The Jaguars could not handle the relentless press and could not stop the Trojans on both the inside and outside the three point line.

The Jags had three players in double figures led by Demitri Gardner's 23 points. Maximillian Amadasun added 15 points and freshman Elìas Pàlsson had 11 points. 

AU got off to a quick start as Amadasun and Pàlsson scored the first 11 points of the game. They would lead 27-15 before the Trojans got hot and quickly tied the game at 31 with 7:55 to go in the half. A late run enabled Mount Olive to go to the locker room with the lead. AU had just two three-pointers to Mount Olive's five, as the Trojans also went 13-14 from the free throw line in the opening half.

Augusta cut into the lead early in the second half and back-to-back buckets by Amadasun drew the Jaguars to within a single point nearly eight minutes into the half. But things spiraled the wrong direction from that point on as the Trojans went ona 18-8 run and would never be challenged from there on out. 

The Jaguars shot just 43.9% from the field for the game and just 39% in the second half and turned the ball over 24 times leading to 25 Mount Olive points.

AU actually out rebounded the Trojans 49-38 but Mount Olive hit on eight three-pointers to the Jags three.

To go along with his 23 points, Gardner grabbed a team high nine rebounds. 

Freshman Chaevon Torrance tallied seven points while coming up with six boards in 17 minutes of play. 

The Jaguars return to action Saturday afternoon as they take on Barton College at 1 p.m.