Augusta University dominated Benedict College 87-57 in the team’s first game at Christenberry Fieldhouse and first game with head coach Dip Metress back on the sideline following suspension.
Graduate student Troy Cracknell opened the scoring for AU with a three-pointer on the Jags’ first possession following turnovers by both teams, and junior Miguel Arnold followed behind with another shortly after.
Junior seven-footer Tyshaun Crawford muscled his way to an offensive board and put-back on the Jags’ next possession, and Arnold parlayed a steal into an easy layup to put the Jags up 10-0 before Benedict called a timeout to regroup. That formula would be a theme for the night, as the former three players led the team in minutes and points in the decisive victory.
Darren Lucas-White of Augusta University, right, attempts a shot as Zach Butler of Benedict College defends the play at Christenberry Fieldhouse in Augusta on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Photo by Mike Adams
The Benedict defense tightened up a bit, but the team still struggled to penetrate the Jags defense until midway through the first half. The Tigers clawed their way into the game with athleticism and finally had some layups and three pointers fall, bringing it back to a 5-point deficit with six minutes left in the first half, 22-17. It would be the closest the score was all night.
Crawford was dominant on both ends of the floor, continually boxing out the Tigers in the paint and swatting away two layup attempts within the span of a few Benedict possessions midway through the first period. The denials were met with thunderous applause from the Jaguar fan faithful.
The Jags then hit back to back three-pointers to extend their lead 28-17. Benedict’s Brandon Smith hit a three of his own before Crawford sent a third Benedict shot sailing out of bounds after a block at the rim.
Junior Darren Lucas-White then weaved through defense on multiple occasions, scoring six unanswered points, bringing the lead to 37-20 before the first half concluded.
[adrotate banner=”51″]
The Jags kept the energy up to open the second period, scoring on three consecutive possessions to go up 45-20.
The Tigers appeared frustrated as their shots continued to clang off the rim. Benedict had no answer for Crawford, who finished the game with a 15-10 double double. Seven of his 10 rebounds came on defense.
The Jags’ speed and attack from beyond the three-point line (10-26 as a team on the night) outclassed Benedict, who only shot 9-23 on threes and 4-12 at the free throw line.
MORE: Athlete Spotlight: ARC’s Pandora Keele
Benedict got a couple shots to fall in, reducing the deficit to 69-37, but Cracknell and Arnold knocked down 3-pointers while Crawford manhandled Benedict at the rim to extend the lead again, 77-39.
From then on, the Tigers played mostly for pride as the Jags’ starters spent much of the game’s remainder on the bench. Darren Lucas-White played more of a role as a result and shined on both offense and defense as the game wound down. He finished 2-3 on three-pointers for 10 total points on the night, also chipping in two rebounds and a steal.
Benedict knocked down a few barely-contested threes in the final three minutes, and the score was 87-57 when the final buzzer sounded off.
Arnold led the team in minutes leading into this game and that continued in the team’s home opener. He also led the team with 21 points, shooting five of eight from beyond the arc. Cracknell followed behind Crawford and Arnold with 12 points and five rebounds on the night
Freshman transfer Ja’Queze Kirby played 17 minutes, sixth on the team, and contributed eight points, three rebounds and one assist.
The Jags’ first home game was also the first game with Head Coach Dip Metress back at the helm. Following an investigation that revealed Metress and former assistant coach O’Neal Armstrong were involved in academic dishonesty, Metress was suspended for two scrimmage games and the first three games of the regular season.
Those three games all turned into decisive wins, as AU won with leads of 18, 21 and nine.
AU now goes back on the road to face Bowie State on Nov. 28 before returning to Christenberry Fieldhouse on Dec. 2 for a clash with Claflin University. Benedict College hosts Tuskegee University Saturday, Nov. 27.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
