Metress wants to avoid technical fouls

Augusta State coach Dip Metress said Monday he's not concerned with his recent string of technical fouls.

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Metress has picked up a technical in each of the past three games after notching three in the previous 28. He said he's not worried about picking up another one in tonight's Southeast Regional final (7 p.m.) against Montevallo.

"I don't want to do anything to hurt our team," Metress said. "I just want to focus on the team."

NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Augusta State is 17-0 at Christenberry Fieldhouse season. If the Jaguars win today, they will become the first team in school history to go undefeated at home for an entire season.

Augusta State averages 1,667 fans per contest to its 2,216-seat arena. In the two regional games, the Jaguars have drawn crowds of 1,801 and 1,833. More than 2,100 fans have attended each of the past two regional championship games in Augusta, and Metress is hoping that trend continues.

"The main thing (tonight) is to absolutely not have one seat available in the arena," he said.

Tickets cost $10 and go on sale at 6 p.m. at the Christenberry Fieldhouse box office.

IN THE PAINT: Senior center Alex Smith had his worst game of the season against Montevallo in Augusta State's conference tournament loss to the Falcons. He posted five points and three rebounds. Smith said he needs to attack Montevallo's defense.

"They're going to throw a couple of different looks at me to try to get me out of rhythm," he said. "I just need to attack and be mindful of anything weird they throw at me."

NO PLACE LIKE HOME, PART 2: Augusta State has made the most of its home-court advantage this season. On its home floor, the Jaguars are outscoring opponents to the tune of 23.4 points a contest. At Christenberry Fieldhouse, Augusta State averages 83.6 points a game and allows 60.2.

Greg Hire said one of the key factors has been the momentum the team gets from the fans.

"Once you get on a run," he said, "you want to hear that crowd."

AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE: Augusta State senior guard Ben Madgen , the leading scorer in conference and school history, has 2,265 career points and owns a 19.2 scoring average this season. Madgen scored a career-high 34 points in the previous game against Montevallo.

Madgen, of Williamstown, Australia, owns a multitude of school records, but there's one more in his grasp: He needs nine more 3-pointers to pass fellow Australian Gary Boodnikoff on the school's all-time list for 3-pointers made. Boodnikoff set the standard with 282; Madgen has 274.

AROUND THE NATION: Only three No. 1 seeds advanced to play in one of the eight regional championship games tonight -- Augusta State (Southeast), Indiana (Pa.) (Atlantic) and Midwestern State (South Central). The winner of the Augusta State-Montevallo contest will face the East Regional champion (either No. 2 seed Bentley or No. 4 seed Philadelphia) at 8:30 p.m., March 24 in the Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass.