EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Augusta University Jaguars hope to cut down some nets as they eye their first ever national basketball title.
On a blazing 19-game win streak that stretches more than two months, the Augusta University men’s basketball team is set to take on defending national champion Northwest Missouri State in the Division II National Championship game at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 26.
The No. 5 seed Northwest Missouri State has won three out of the last four championship games. The Bearcats will be looking to win their third straight title.
AU Coach Dip Metress and the Jaguars prepare for their second-ever trip to the title game. The last time they battled for the national championship was in 2008 when they lost to Winona State 87-76.
“It would be great for our school and our program,” said Metress. “We have been close a couple times, to get to the Elite Eight and the NCAA tournament is really hard, and to play for a National Championship, that is unbelievable.”
The No. 3 seed Jaguars lost their last game on Jan. 22 when Flagler beat them 79-66 in Jacksonville, Fla.
“We lost to Flagler on the road without (Ja’Queze) Kirby, and I remember calling timeout with 30 seconds to go and saying if we play this way and we get Kirb back, were going to win some games. I didn’t think we’d be playing in this one; I was just trying to win the conference,” said Metress.
Northwest Missouri State (33-5, 14-5) is currently on a 10-game win streak and are led by back-to-back Division II player of the year Trevor Hudgins. Hudgins currently averages 23.5 points per game, fourth in all of Division II college basketball.
The Jaguars are led by the 7-foot-1 big man Tyshaun Crawford, along with several other key pieces to their championship run.
“It’s always exciting to be in a championship game, I have never been a part of anything like this in my life, so I am just trying to enjoy the moment, but me and my guys are ready to go,” said Crawford. “We’re all excited, we’re all having fun in the back, but we all know there is a next game, and we have a next game mentality, and we just keep going like that.”
The National Championship game will be aired on CBS Sports. A watch party is scheduled for Augusta University fans at Christenberry Fieldhouse. It will start at 2:30. The event is free and open to the public.
