By Miguelangelo Hernandez
Staff Writer, Augusta Chronicle
Gary Tuell missed Augusta State's huge win over Life University on
Monday. He's glad he stuck around Wednesday night against USC
Aiken.
The Jaguars erased a nine-point halftime deficit and turned it into
a 72-63 mugging of the Pacers in Peach Belt Conference action at
the ASU athletic complex.
``I was not going anywhere tonight; I didn't want to miss this,''
the Augusta State coach said. ``I didn't think this game would be
this hard. We didn't play well in the first half, and we didn't
shoot the ball well, and that's a credit to Aiken. They're a good
team.''
With the win, Augusta State continues to lead the overall series
between the schools at 21-14. More importantly, the Jaguars and
Pacers now are tied in the Northern Division with seven games to go
in the regular season. Both teams will play four of the remaining
seven games on the road.
Augusta State fell behind by 11 six minutes into the second half,
after Dain Brown hit two 3-pointers and former South Aiken standout
Michael Tyler drilled three free throws.
The Jaguars (13-6, 7-2) went on a 32-10 run over the next nine
minutes to pull away from USC Aiken (13-6, 7-2). The run was part
of a 52-point, second-half performance by the Jaguars that was led
by junior guard T.J. Ott.
Ott poured in a game-high 25 points and was one of four players to
reach double figures for Augusta State. Russell Hinder and Gary
Boodnikoff each had 15, while 6-foot-11 senior center Festus
Hawkins chipped in 11 points.
Brown had a team-high 23 points to pace USC Aiken, while Chris
Robinson added 14.
``My team did a great job, and it could be worse, but we're still
tied for first,'' Pacers coach Mike Roberts said. ``I don't think
you have to take one in the grill to get refocused, but it
certainly changes the scenario. We have a couple games at home, and
I think it gives us an opportunity to get back on our feet.''
Augusta State's win avenges its 53-51 loss at The Courthouse on
Jan. 17 and snaps the Pacers' four-game winning streak.
With the Jaguars and Pacers trading points, Boodnikoff, coming off
a career night against Life, hit two critical 3-pointers from the
right wing to push Augusta State up 50-43. After Robinson hit a
jumper, Ott scored six of the team's next 11 points to give Augusta
State its biggest lead of the night, 59-45.
USC Aiken shot 44 percent in the first half (11-of-25), compared to
the Jaguars' mere 32 percent (8-of-25), including 1-of-10 from
behind the arc.
The teams traded places in the second half, as Augusta State shot
an astounding 73 percent (16-of-22), including four of seven
3-pointers 16 of 17 from the free-throw line.
USC Aiken, which was picked in the preseason poll to finish ninth,
hit just eight of 25 shots (32 percent) but made four of its eight
3-point attempts.

March 27, 2001
Hawkins and Boodnikoff Named to the NABC All-Region Team

March 11, 2001
Jaguars look to next season

March 10, 2001
Magical Season Comes to an End for Jaguars

March 10, 2001
Augusta State knocked out of tournament

March 10, 2001
Rams' stifling 'D' steamrolls Jaguars

March 9, 2001
Jaguars are a 'can do' team

March 9, 2001
Jaguars top Catawba College 96-84

March 8, 2001
Jaguars ready to take on Catawba

March 7, 2001
Augusta State coach ready for challenge

March 5, 2001
Augusta State Men’s Basketball Itinerary

March 5, 2001
Augusta State earns 6th seed

March 3, 2001
Jaguars reign in Peach Belt

March 3, 2001
Augusta State Wins Peach Belt Tournament Title

March 2, 2001
ASU Defeats USC Aiken in PBC Semifinals

March 1, 2001
Jaguars top Clayton State

February 24, 2001
ASU Wraps North Division Top-Seed With 83-65 Win Over Francis Marion

February 21, 2001
No. 22 Pirates Win 16th Straight, Defeat ASU 58-45

February 17, 2001
ASU Falls to Georgia College & State

February 15, 2001
ASU 89, Francis Marion 73

February 14, 2001
ASU Rolls Over Francis Marion 89-73

February 11, 2001
Jaguars celebrate homecoming with win

February 10, 2001
ASU Rolls Over North Florida 93-50

February 10, 2001
Jaguars face North Florida at home

February 7, 2001
ASU Moves Back Into First Place With 70-63 Win Over UNC Pembroke

February 3, 2001
Senators down Augusta State 68-60

February 1, 2001
Jaguars defeat Pacers 72-63

January 31, 2001
ASU Moves Back Into First Place With 72-63 Win Over USC Aiken

January 29, 2001
Records Fall as ASU Defeats Life University 108-87

January 24, 2001
Jaguars suffer tough setback vs. Kennesaw

January 20, 2001
TJ Ott Leads ASU to 61-47 Win over USC Spartanburg

January 18, 2001
Pacers edge Jaguars 53-51

January 17, 2001
Second Half Rally Falls Short as ASU Falls to USCA

January 17, 2001
Jaguars, Pacers renew PBC rivalry

January 16, 2001
Paine tops ASU in City Classic

January 15, 2001
Paine Defeats ASU 68-58 Behind Yari Scott’s 27 Points

January 15, 2001
Gary Boodnikoff Named Peach Belt Player of the Week

January 14, 2001
Jaguars remain at top of league

January 13, 2001
Gary Boodnikoff Scores 26 in 80-53 Win Over Lander

January 10, 2001
Braves and Jaguars Split Peach Belt Doubleheader

January 8, 2001
Festus Hawkins Lifts ASU to 64-63 Overtime Win

January 7, 2001
Jaguars give Harris win number 1

January 6, 2001
Augusta State Defeats Columbus State 74-57

January 4, 2001
ASU Men and Women Sweep Clayton State

January 3, 2001
Augusta State Defeats Clayton State 65-54

December 21, 2000
Augusta State’s Gary Tuell to Host Holiday Basketball Clinic ... Again

December 18, 2000
Augusta State Falls To Life, 72-55

December 13, 2000
Augusta State’s Gary Tuell to Host Holiday Basketball Clinic

December 13, 2000
Festus Hawkins and Sharon Taylor Ranked Nationally

December 10, 2000
Fast start lifts Jags past Savannah State

December 9, 2000
Festus Hawkins Powers ASU Over Savannah State 87-67

December 2, 2000
Augusta State Defeats Lenoir-Rhyne 71-55

December 1, 2000
ASU Falls to 10th-Ranked Wingate 103-88

November 30, 2000
ASU Defeats Rollins 70-68

November 27, 2000
ASU Defeats West Georgia 66-61 in Home Opener

November 22, 2000
Augusta State Notches First Win at Savannah State 68-45

November 17, 2000
West Georgia Defeats Augusta State 76-74 in Overtime Thriller

November 11, 2000
Augusta State Defeats ASU Alumni/CSRA Select Team 91-55

October 14, 2000
Augusta State to host Midnight Madness Saturday, October 14

October 11, 2000
ASU Seeking Third Straight Peach Belt North Division Title

October 10, 2000
Augusta State Men’s Basketball Opens 2000-01 Season at West Georgia