Augusta University basketball falls in NCAA Division-II national championship game

Will Cheney, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
Augusta #2 Tyree Myers shoots a free throw during the Augusta University and USC Aiken mens basketball game at Augusta University Forest Hills campus on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Augusta defeated USC Aiken 73-52.
Augusta #2 Tyree Myers shoots a free throw during the Augusta University and USC Aiken mens basketball game at Augusta University Forest Hills campus on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2022. Augusta defeated USC Aiken 73-52.

Augusta University basketball's historic run came to an end Saturday.

The Jaguars fell to defending champ Northwest Missouri State 67-58 in the NCAA Division-II national title game. It was Augusta's second trip to the national championship game and first since 2008.

Despite the outcome, another banner will be going up in the rafters of Christenberry Fieldhouse.

More: Here's why Augusta University men's basketball could be back in Evansville in 2023

Augusta started out strong, but Northwest Missouri State took control via an 11-3 run midway through the first half. The Jags entered the locker room trailing 39-28.

It was obvious early that the Bearcats' game plan was to take center Tyshaun Crawford out of the picture as much as possible (regardless of how many personal fouls it took) and force the Jags to rely on shooting the basketball.

Shots weren't falling and it proved to be the difference in the game. Augusta shot just 36 percent from the floor and 58 percent from the free-throw line.

Despite mounting a run late in the second half, it wasn't enough to complete the comeback. In the end, Northwest Missouri State played like a team that was accustomed to being on the biggest stage.

Bearcat junior Trevor Hudgins did most of his damage before the break. The back-to-back national player of the year was held to nine second-half points after finishing the first half with 22. Hudgins finished with a game-high 31 points, including five three-pointers.

Crawford led the Jags with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Tyree Myers and Troy Cracknell each finished with 12 points.

Saturday didn't necessarily mark the closing of any kind of window for this basketball program going forward. Cracknell, a grad student, and senior Jack Johnson are the only players Augusta is losing to graduation, so a large majority of the contributors will return to the floor next season.

The team hits the road back to town first thing in the morning, but the festivities aren't over just yet. Augusta University is planning a welcome-home celebration for the team Sunday at 5 p.m. at Christenberry.

Reaching the national championship game is no small feat and the Augusta community will quickly remind this team of that.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta University basketball defeated in NCAA D-II national title