Jags knock out top-20 opponent

A day typically reserved for football turned out to be the ideal time for an upset.

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Jason Mills scored a game-high 21 on Sunday as Augusta State knocked No. 16 West Georgia from the unbeaten ranks with an 82-63 victory at Christenberry Fieldhouse.

The improbable win came a month after the Braves humiliated the Jaguars by 31 in Carrollton, Ga.

"We've been waiting for this game ever since we played up there," Mills said.

Mills recorded five of Augusta State's 11 3-pointers. Karim Telfer scored 13 points with eight rebounds and six assists. Clarence Brown scored 10 points with 10 boards, while Cameron Tovey added 10 points.

The Jaguars improved to 4-0 at home, 7-4 overall. The win marked Augusta State's first over a ranked opponent since it defeated No. 2 Fayetteville State on Dec. 18, 1991.

"In order to be any good, you have to protect your home court," Augusta State coach Dip Metress said. "We've been able to do that."

West Georgia needed one more victory to match its longest winning streak. The Braves, scoring 92.1 points a game, also entered with three straight 100-point outings.

West Georgia failed to extend that spell as well, because it couldn't figure out Augusta State's 2-3 zone defense before halftime. The Braves shot 40 percent from the field but converted just four first-half field goals.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, opened the game with 3-point fever. Telfer started the scoring with a pair of 3s as Augusta State popped six in the first 10 minutes. Mills canned a three from the top of the key with

9:52 left before halftime, pushing the lead to 24-6.

With a huge cushion late in the half, the Jaguars went back to the well. Telfer penetrated inside and kicked a pass back out to Mills on the wing. With two seconds left, the junior guard drained his fourth 3-pointer of the half. Augusta State led 43-16.

The lead remained at 27 after a Larry Diamond 3-pointer four minutes into the second half. Then West Georgia regained its footing.

Majestic Mapp, who led the Braves with 21 points, helped his team close the gap in a hurry. Mapp fueled a 20-2 run with eight points and a pair of steals. West Georgia trailed 53-44 with 9:56 remaining.

"They're obviously a good team," Brown said. "We knew they were going to make a run. We just had to remain tough."

They did.

Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645

or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.

Augusta State 82,

West Georgia 63

Halftime: Augusta State 43-16 3-point goals: West Georgia 7-20 (Miller 1-3, Mapp 4-8, Madry 2-4, Neal 0-5), Augusta State 11-27 (Brown 1-1, Tovey 0-4, Telfer 3-8, Diamond 2-4, Mills 5-9). Rebounds: West Georgia 26 (Shaw 8), Augusta State 40 (Brown 10). Assists: West Georgia 10 (Mapp 5), Augusta State 19 (Telfer 6). Turnovers: West Georgia 14, Augusta State 12. Fouls: West Georgia 15, Augusta State 22. Fouled out: Miller, Tovey. A-225.