Joyner's career ends as Jags' tournament dreams slip away
By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Editor in chief
It was a somber Wednesday evening, Feb. 25, at Christenberry Fieldhouse as the Augusta University men’s basketball team fell to the University of North Georgia 71-56 in its season finale.
The loss not only marked the end of the Jaguars’ season, but also the final collegiate game for graduate forward Evan Joyner. The Greensboro, N.C., native finished with four points in his last outing in white and blue, closing the chapter on a career defined by leadership, toughness and consistency.
As the season came to a close, AU coach Dip Metress did not shy away from his frustration, having previously described the year as a “tsunami of injuries.”
“I’m disappointed with our effort,” Metress said. “We are going to do individual meetings starting tomorrow morning. Losing is not acceptable. And then on March 12 we will start postseason workouts.”
Despite the result, there were signs of growth that point toward the future. Freshman Daniel Daramola led the Jaguars with 14 points on an efficient 5-of-9 shooting night, showcasing a developing baby hook in the post, a move he has steadily refined throughout the season.
“He’s going to be a great player; his effort is great,” Metress said of the freshman.
Elías Pálsson added 12 points, while Charlie McBeath chipped in seven.
For the Nighthawks, Colin Turner and AJ White each scored 14 points, helping North Georgia shoot an efficient 53.5 percent from the field. Augusta struggled offensively, shooting 33.3 percent overall and 20.8 percent from 3-point range, numbers that proved difficult to overcome.
Even with the adversity the team faced this season, Metress made it clear that standards will not change.
“We had some issues with guys out, but that’s still no excuse to come out there and give no effort,” he said. “I’m disappointed with that. All these crazy things … We’ll start fixing them tomorrow morning.”
For the first time in program history, Augusta will miss the conference tournament, a rare setback for a program that has consistently competed under Metress. But if Wednesday night signaled the end of one chapter, it also marked the beginning of another.
Postseason workouts begin in less than two weeks. Young players gained valuable minutes. A freshman showed flashes of becoming a cornerstone. And a standard, even in disappointment, was reinforced.
The season did not end the way the Jaguars envisioned. But as one era closes with Joyner’s final game, the work toward returning to contention has already begun.
Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu.
At the top of the page, AU’s Evan Joyner (0) drives to the basket for a layup. Joyner played his last ever game at Christenberry Fieldhouse while sporting the Jaguar colors. (photo by Lydia Williams/the Bell Ringer)
Below, Daniel Daramola goes reverse down the baseline for two. Daramola led the Jaguars with 14 points. (photo by Rodrigo Burgos Avila/the Bell Ringer)
