EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Division II Player of the Year Trevor Hudgins led Northwest Missouri State with 31 points and defeated Augusta University men’s basketball team 67-58 in the National Championship on Saturday, March 26, at the Ford Center in Evansville, Ind.
Northwest Missouri State has now won three National Championships in a row and four out of the last five titles.
“Losing sucks. There is no different feeling. I am proud of the fact we galvanized our city being not an easy thing to do at our university, but we were able to do that. Our guys will see that and will get back to it,” said AU Coach Dip Metress.
The Jaguars looked for center Tyshaun Crawford early as he scored six of Augusta’s eight points, giving the Jaguars an 8-2 lead. Graduate student Troy Cracknell also scored for AU early, making two three-pointers and finishing with 10 points the first half with Jaguars leading 18-12 with 11:29 remaining in the first half.
Hudgins caught fire midway through the first half, finishing with 22 points in the half and putting the Bearcats ahead 39-28.
Augusta went on a 16-5 run late in the second half, cutting the Bearcats lead to one point, 57-56. The Bearcats ended the game on a 9-2 run to grant them the win.
Tyshaun Crawford led Augusta with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“We went through a lot of adversity, but the basketball gods didn’t end our way. That’s how it is,” Crawford said. “We fought back all we could. In these moments, we lean on each other. That’s what were going to continue to do, can’t never get too low, but this one hurt.”
The 33 wins this season was the most in AU’s men’s basketball history.
This marks the end of the Jaguars’ historic season and championship run, as well as ends there 19-game winning streak. They will now head home where they will be welcomed by many supporting fans.
The Augusta Jaguars will have a welcome home celebration at 5 p. . Sunday, March 27, at Christenberry Fieldhouse.
