ASU Shoots Down No. 2 Pacers

ASU Shoots Down No. 2 Pacers
Madgen nets career-high 33; Jags defeat highest-ranked opponent ever
Web Posted 1/5/09


AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State junior guard Ben Madgen poured in a
career-high 33 points to pace the No. 7 Jaguars to an 87-76 Peach Belt
Conference victory over second-ranked USC Aiken Monday night in
Christenberry Fieldhouse.

In front of a crowd of 3,109 – the second-largest in CFH history -- ASU
defeated the highest-ranked opponent in school history and improved to
14-5 vs. nationally-ranked opponents in its five seasons under head
coach Dip Metress. The contest – the 50th meeting between the two
rivals -- marked the first top-10 matchup between conference schools in
league history.

The win lifted ASU to 8-2 overall, to 2-1 in the PBC and to 34-16
all-time vs. the Pacers. USCA dropped to 7-3 overall and to 2-1 in the
league and suffered its third loss in four games after the opening the
season with six straight wins.

The Jags bounced back from a sub-par shooting effort at Clayton State
with one of its best of the season. ASU shot 60.0 percent for the game,
including 66.7 percent in the second half, and limited the Pacers to
just 36.4 percent shooting in the final 20 minutes.

Junior forward Fred Brathwaite posted a career-best effort as well,
tallying 19 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the
season. Senior center Garret Siler netted 10 points, five rebounds and
a season-high five blocks.

Pacer junior guard Javonte Clanton booked 24 points, while Cordaryl
Ballard registered 16 points and four assists. Senior All-American
Chris Commons finished with 15 points on 7-of-16 shooting.

ASU jumped out to a 20-9 lead and led by as many as 13 after a pair of
Siler free throws at the 6:48 mark of the first half. The Pacers got as
close as six on a Seth Leonard layup with 1:22 remaining before the
Jags got free throws from Jason Killeen and Ben Madgen just before the
half.

A Madgen 3-pointer four minutes into the second half put ASU ahead
54-39. The Jags maintained a double-digit edge until the Pacers strung
together a 9-0 spurt over a stretch of 3:06, closing to within 65-60 on
a trey from Clanton with 7:19 remaining.

ASU answered with seven straight points, including a trey from senior
point guard Steve Smith, and pushed its advantage back to 72-60 on a
pair of Brathwaite free throws with 5:26 to go.

The Pacers never got closer than nine the rest of the way, and two
Madgen free throws gave the Jags their largest lead of the game at
84-68 with 1:36 left.

ASU hosts UNC Pembroke in the middle game of a three-game homestand on
Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Augusta State def. USC Aiken 87-76 (Box Score)


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Robbie McKinlay

Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
Augusta State University
706-729-2449
South Atlantic Regional Champions 2008
National Finalists 2008