Augusta University
Miguelangelo HernandezThe Augusta University men’s basketball team is still dancing in March thanks to junior Miguel Arnold.
Arnold hit a fade-away 3-pointer with 1.7 seconds left to lift the Jaguars to a 77-76 victory over Queens (Charlotte) to win the Southeast Regional of the NCAA Division II Tournament on Tuesday night. It is Augusta University’s first appearance in the Elite Eight in 12 years.
WHAT A FINISH!!! @AugustaJags are region champions! #pbcdominant pic.twitter.com/TeMtGCxQgt
— Peach Belt (@PeachBelt) March 16, 2022
After the game, Arnold admitted he wasn’t going to shoot the ball, but did at the urging of Tyree Myers.
“I wasn’t going to shoot but Tyree say ‘shoot it,’ and I shot it and it went it. I don’t deserve the credit, I give the credit to Tyree, our captain,” Arnold said.
The victory, which avenges a 2019 loss to Queens in Charlotte in the Southeast Regional championship, sends the Jaguars (31-3) to Evansville, Indiana for the Elite Eight at the Ford Center beginning March 22.
“[Queens] last lost on Jan. 15; we last lost on Jan. 22. It was two cruise liners heading into this championship,” said Jaguars Head Coach Dip Metress in the postgame interview. “I’ve been coaching a long time, but I don’t remember ever winning on a 3-point shot.
“We ran a play called ‘Chop,’ it was a great shot but a hell of a pass,” added Metress, pointing to Arnold and Myers. “I’ve been here 18 years and we’ve never won a game like that, especially of that magnitude.”
Queens led by as much as seven points throughout the game and by six as late as 7:25 left in the game after Jamar Smith hit a jumper to make it 60-54. After Augusta University rallied, the teams exchanged leads for the next two minutes before the Jaguars went ahead and lead by five with 2:49 left.
Augusta’s Tyshaun Crawford made a free throw with 40 seconds left to tie the game before Queens’ Kenny Dye made a layup to put the Royals ahead 76-74 with eight seconds left, setting up Arnold’s go-ahead basket.
Ja’Queze Kirby led Augusta with 20 points in a game that featured 20 lead changes and seven ties. Crawford, a first-team All-Regional selection, had 17 points while Arnold posted 14. The Jaguars finished the year 20-0 at home.
Smith had a game-high 33 points for the Royals (30-4) hitting 12 of 22 shots from the field including four of eight from 3-point range. Jay’Den Turner chipped in 22 and Dye finished with 17. Those three combined to take 79% of the shots for Queens.
Seven of the final eight teams — Nova Southeastern (No. 1), Indiana (PA) (No. 3), Augusta (No. 5) and Northwest Missouri State (No. 10), Bentley (No. 14), Chico State (No. 15) and Black Hills State (No. 22) — were all ranked in the top 25 in the final regular-season poll. Hillsdale, the third seed from the Midwest Regional, defeated Missouri-St. Louis on Monday to secure its spot.
The DII committee re-seeded the remaining teams and announced the March 22 matchups:
- Game 1: No. 4 Bentley vs. No. 5 Northwest Missouri State, 1 p.m.;
- Game 2: No. 1 Nova Southeastern vs. No. 8 Black Hills State, 3:30;
- Game 3: No. 2. Indiana (PA) vs. No. 7 Hillsdale, 7;
- Game 4: No. 3 Augusta vs. No. 6 Chico State, 9:30
The winners of Game 1 and 2 will face each other in one semifinal while Game 3 and 4 winners will meet in other on March 24. The national championship game will be played March 26.
There will be a send-off for the team at 10 a.m. Sunday, March 20 in front of Christenberry Fieldhouse. They will be departing through Gate 1 (main entrance). Fans are encouraged to arrive in the lobby or outside Gate 1 by 9:45 as well as bring signs and balloons.
Staff
