Augusta draws fifth seed in NCAA tournament to meet Columbus State

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Augusta University men’s basketball team was selected to the NCAA Tournament via a live selection show on NCAA.com and the Jaguars drew the fifth seed to meet fourth-seeded Columbus State in the first-round quarterfinal game on Saturday, March 11 in The Levine Center.

Queens University of Charlotte is the top seed and will host the NCAA Southeast Regional March 11-14 at The Levine Center in Charlotte, N.C. Eight teams from eight regions teams were selected to the NCAA Tournament.

It is the 12^th all-time selection for the Jaguars in the Big Dance (1970, ’71, ’01, ’02, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11,’14, ’15 and ’17) and the eighth in the last 11 years for head coach Dip Metress.

“302 Division II teams start out the year trying to put themselves in a position to make the NCAA tournament and we are excited about being one of the 64 teams selected,” Metress said. “To be a part of the tournament eight times in the last 11 years is a great feeling and we will be led by our lone senior Keshun Sherrill.”

Augusta is 23-7 on the season after making their 26^th appearance all time in the Peach Belt Conference Tournament. AU posted a 14-5 Peach Belt record on the year and owned the best regular-season record in the entire PBC to win the east division title.

The Jags average 80.4 points per game – led by PBC Player of the Year and first-team All-Conference selection Keshun Sherrill. Sherrill is ranked third nationally for the most career points amongst active DII players and sits third in free throws made and fourth in attempts. He is 20 points away from becoming the PBC’s all-time leading scorer.

Columbus State downed AU 86-80 in the regular season and most recently knocked the Jags out of the PBC Tournament with a 62-57 win in the semifinal game.

Augusta hosted five NCAA Regionals from 2007-2011 and last appeared in the 2015 season, falling 84-75 to the Mount Olive Trojans in the first round quarterfinal game.

The winners of the regional tournament advance to the Elite Eight in Sioux Falls, S.D., March 22-27 at the Sanford Pentagon.

2017 NCAA Southeast Region Bracket

#1 Queens (28-3) vs. #8 Wingate (20-10)

#4 Columbus State (20-9) vs. #5 Augusta (23-70

#2 Lincoln Memorial (26-5) vs. #7 Pfeiffer (26-4)

#3 UNC Pembroke (24-7) vs. #6 Limestone (26-5)

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