MONTEVALLO, Ala. -- Sixth-ranked Augusta State enjoyed a successful 2007-08 debut Friday night, defeating No. 15 Montevallo 79-72 in the first day of the UM Coca-Cola Classic at People’s Bank and Trust Arena on the campus of Montevallo.

The victory improved ASU to 3-1 in season openers under fourth-year head coach Dip Metress and to 33-28 on the road under Metress.

Sophomore point guard Daniel Dixon tallied a career-high 27 points – 24 in the first half – and connected on a career-best eight 3-pointers. Sophomore guard/forward Ben Madgen booked 21 points, while senior Tyrekus “AJ” Bowman scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds in 26 minutes off the bench. Bowman did not start after missing nearly four weeks of preseason practice while recovering from a heart procedure performed on Sept. 24. Junior center Garret Siler posted 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

Dixon nailed a 3-pointer on the Jaguars’ first trip down the court and connected on seven treys in the first half. ASU built as much as a 25-point lead in the second half before the Falcons mounted a comeback, pulling to within six of the Jaguars on two occasions late in the contest. Siler answered with a layup and Bowman drilled a 3-pointer to keep the hosts from creeping any closer.

ASU shot 59.6 percent from the field and hit on 13-of 25 3-point attempts.

Terrill Humphrey paced Montevallo with 25 points, while DeAndre Miranda and Jonathon Hewitt added 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Jaguars (1-0) face Florida Southern at 6:30 p.m. Eastern on Saturday. Montevallo and Henderson State wrap up play in the second day of the Classic at 8:30 p.m.

Official Basketball Box Score
Augusta State vs Montevallo
11/16/07 7:35 p.m. at Montevallo, Ala. (Peoples B&T Arena)
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VISITORS: Augusta State 1-0
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
00 Dixon, Daniel....... *  9-11   8-10   1-2    2  2  4   2  27  2  5  0  3  33
01 Madgen, Ben......... *  6-11   2-6    7-10   1  5  6   4  21  3  5  0  0  31
02 Smith, Steve........ *  1-4    0-3    0-0    0  1  1   0   2  3  3  0  1  26
03 Howard, Demetrius... *  0-3    0-1    2-2    1  5  6   1   2  2  2  1  1  29
21 Siler, Garret....... *  6-7    0-0    0-0    3  6  9   4  12  0  0  4  0  29
10 Wright, Tom.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   1   0  1  1  0  0  10
23 Bowman, Tyrekus.....    6-10   3-5    0-0    0  6  6   2  15  1  4  1  0  26
24 Brown, Caleb........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   0  0  0  0  0   6
33 Tambon, Luke........    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  1  0  0  10
   TEAM................                         1  1  2
   Totals..............   28-47  13-25  10-14   8 28 36  15  79 12 21  6  5 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-29 51.7%   2nd Half: 13-18 72.2%   Game: 59.6%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  8-17 47.1%   2nd Half:  5-8  62.5%   Game: 52.0%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-6  66.7%   2nd Half:  6-8  75.0%   Game: 71.4%    3

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HOME TEAM: Montevallo 0-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
03 Turner, Eric........ *  1-3    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   1   2  0  0  1  1  12
23 Dortch, Taurus...... *  1-13   1-8    0-0    2  1  3   2   3  7  3  0  1  37
32 Brown, Anthony...... *  2-6    0-0    1-2    3  0  3   2   5  1  1  1  1  31
33 Miranda, DeAndre.... *  6-9    0-0    3-5    5  0  5   0  15  1  0  0  1  26
35 Humphrey, Terrill... *  8-17   8-14   1-1    0  4  4   2  25  2  3  0  2  37
15 Caston, Shon........    3-5    0-1    2-2    2  2  4   3   8  2  1  0  1  24
20 Hutchison, Jordan...    0-1    0-1    0-1    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  1   3
24 Hewitt, Jonathon....    5-13   1-4    1-1    4  2  6   3  12  3  2  0  2  22
42 Carlyle, Brian......    1-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   2   2  0  0  0  0   8
   Team................                         1  2  3
   Totals..............   27-69  10-30   8-12  17 12 29  15  72 16 10  2 10 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 12-34 35.3%   2nd Half: 15-35 42.9%   Game: 39.1%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-14 28.6%   2nd Half:  6-16 37.5%   Game: 33.3%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  4-5  80.0%   2nd Half:  4-7  57.1%   Game: 66.7%    1

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Officials: Kevin Clary, Cory Taylor, Craig Laird
Technical fouls: Augusta State-None. Montevallo-Caston, Shon.
Attendance: 1035
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Augusta State.................   42   37  -   79
Montevallo....................   32   40  -   72
Season opener for Augusta State
Augusta State was ranked No. 6, Montevallo was ranked No. 15

Points in the paint-ASU 2,UMM 10. Points off turnovers-ASU 20,UMM 19.
2nd chance points-ASU 13,UMM 16. Fast break points-ASU 0,UMM 0.
Bench points-ASU 15,UMM 22. Score tied-1 time. Lead changed-0 times.
Last FG-ASU 2nd-02:18, UMM 2nd-00:05.