NCAA Men's Regional - Augusta State Downs Anderson to Reach Championship Game

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Top-seeded Augusta State led from start to finish in a resounding 100-70 victory over fifth-seeded Anderson in the semifinals of the 2010 NCAA Division II Southeast Regional at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The 30-point win over Anderson moves the Jaguars into the championship game of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional for the third straight season. The Jaguars will play seventh-seeded Montevallo for the right to advance to the Elite Eight for the third consecutive season at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 16.

Augusta State has now won 30 consecutive home games. The Jaguars improved to 28-3 on the 2009-10 season overall with the victory over the Trojans. Anderson, who won its first ever NCAA Tournament game the night before with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Catawba, concludes one of the best seasons in school history with a mark of 24-8.

Augusta State went up by as many as 11 points in the first half with the Jaguars clinging to an 11-point 43-32 advantage after a Tye Beal jumper with 1:18 remaining in the first half.

Anderson’s Kevis Cornwell would knock down a three-pointer a few seconds later to cut the Jaguar lead to eight, but Augusta State’s Daniel Dixon would connect on two free throws with seven seconds left in the first half to send the Jaguars into the locker rooms with a 45-35 halftime advantage.

The 10-point halftime lead was the result of a 62.5 percent shooting performance by Augusta State in the first half of play. Augusta State hit upon 15 of its 24 shots in the first half. The majority of their damage came from beyond the arc where they were 7-of-12 (58.3 percent) in the first half. Dixon (4) and Ben Madgen (3) accounted for all seven three-pointers.

Anderson concluded the first half shooting a respectable 45.5 percent (15-for-33), but the Trojans were horrid from three-point range where they were just 1-of-11 in the first half. The Trojans did hold a 16-10 advantage in the paint at the halftime break.

Anderson would open the second stanza by pushing their deficit below double digits twice, but Augusta State was able to respond by going up by as many as 16 at 65-49 after a Madgen jumper at the 11:36 mark of the second half. The Jaguars kept plugging as exactly five minutes later, Augusta State’s advantage was 21 points at 81-59 after a lay-up by Fred Braithwaite.

Dixon accentuated a strong second half effort by the Jaguars by nailing a three-pointer from beyond NBA range with 2:03 remaining in the contest to place the Jaguars ahead by 23 at 91-68.

Augusta State concluded the eventual 30-point victory with Dominic Morra hitting a three-pointer with nine seconds left to set the final score at 100-70. The 100 points secured by Augusta State were their most ever in an NCAA Regional game.

The Jaguars continued to scorch the nets in the second half to finish the contest shooting 61.4 percent (35-for-57). Augusta State hit 13 of its 25 three-point attempts (52 percent) in the victory.

Anderson shot a collective 46.6 percent (27-of-58) as a team in the contest. They improved from beyond the arc (40 percent) in the second half, but it was not enough to place the Trojans into the contest in the second half.

Madgen (24) and Dixon (23) led the Jaguars in their victory. Madgen was 7-for-13 from the field, while Dixon hit seven three-pointers to commandeer the 23 points.

Fred Braithwaite and Alex Smith were the final Jaguars in double figures. Braithwaite picked up 19 points and six rebounds, while Smith had 10 points and eight rebounds.

Cornwell was the top scorer for the Trojans with 17 points. Tony Anderson (15) and Trey Britton (13) were the final Anderson players in double figures.