Emory downs AU men 80-61 in exhibition in Atlanta
Staff report
Emory University defeated Augusta University 80-61 on Wednesday night, Nov. 5, in a college basketball exhibition in Atlanta.
The Eagles got 18 points Mario Awasum on 8-of-12 shooting. Elias Palsson led the Jaguars with 13 points and 5 rebounds at the Woodruff PE Center Arena.
Emory, an NCAA Division III powerhouse who made it to the Elite Eight last season, opened with a 20-6 run, but AU fought back to close the gap to 34-28 at the half. However, the Eagles outscored the visitors 46-33 in the second half to put the game away.
“There is nothing we are presently good at that resembles a team that can compete in the top half of the standings in our league,” said a disappointed Augusta coach Dip Metress. “We have five practices to address our issues, and we will.”
Augusta was predicted to finish fourth in the Peach Belt Conference in a poll of league coaches.
Emory outshot AU 48 percent to 36.5 percent. The Jaguars shot fewer 3-pointers (20) than they did in the two games at Florida Southern last weekend. The Jags were 6 of 30 from behind the arc against Washburn and 9 of 33 against Lubbock Christian.
Against Emory, AU did have one bright spot, making 11 of 14 from the foul line.
And the Jaguars did get within three points early in the second half when Carlton Young made a 3-pointer with 15:42 remaining the game. The Eagles built the lead to nine, but AU got it down to 57-51 with 9:17 left on a Tobias Prall jumper.
However, the Eagles would slowly pull away, as the final margin would be the home team’s largest lead.
Prall and Luis Nonfon each scored nine points for the Jaguars, who will play the University of Mount Olive on Friday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. in Wilson, N.C. Matias Zanotto totaled eight points and seven rebounds. Charlie McBeath also had eight points for the Jaguars.
Awasum had plenty of help from his Emory teammates. Ben Pearce scored 15, and Ethan Fauss and Jair Knight had 14 apiece for the home team—which shot 18 more free throws than AU.
After the Mount Olive game, AU will take on Barton College on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 1 p.m., also in Wilson.
Luis Nonfon had nine points and five rebounds in AU’s 80-61 loss at Emory. At the top of the page, Elias Palsson was the Jaguars’ scoring leader with 13 points. (photos by Paula Toole/AU Athletics)
