AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Augusta State broke out of a shooting slump in the second half Monday night and rallied for a 68-65 Peach Belt Conference victory over Columbus State in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

Ben Madgen and Garret Siler combined for 51 points in the contest as the 10th-ranked Jaguars exploded for 51 second-half points, erasing a nine-point halftime deficit by shooting 58 percent after intermission.

The win improved ASU to 15-4 overall and 10-2 in the PBC, while the Cougars dropped to 10-11 and 6-5 in the league.

With 26 points, Madgen enjoyed his best scoring effort since netting 28 at Armstrong Atlantic State on Jan. 12. He connected on 9-of-17 field-goal attempts and matched his season-high with four 3-pointers made. Siler booked 25 points and eight rebounds, including 17 points coming in the second half.

Junior Steve Smith, making his second straight start at point guard, notched six points, six assists and three steals. Senior forward Tyrekus “AJ” Bowman had his 38-game double-figure scoring streak snapped. He was held to just five points, but recorded a team-high nine rebounds, six assists, two blocks and two steals.

ASU set a season-low with just 17 first-half points. The Jaguars shot 20.6 percent (7-of-34) from the field and failed to connect on a trey. At one point midway through the half, ASU misfired on 16 consecutive shots.

Miguel Morton led four Cougars in double figures with 15 points and added 12 rebounds. Maurice Arnold had 14 points, Corris Portis chipped in 12 and Javarus Stewart managed 10.

The Jags host UNC Pembroke on Wednesday, Feb. 6 in a PBC matchup at 7:30 p.m. in Christenberry Fieldhouse.

ASU Head Coach Dip Metress

“We didn’t look excited to be playing tonight and that’s the biggest challenge we face ourselves. We need to play like a championship team – we’re 15-4, let’s get excited.”

“Our offense was brutal in the first half and obviously I wasn’t happy with it, but I was happy to get a win and see our guys respond to some criticism. (This season) It’s still a long process and there’s still over a month left and we just need to find ways to keep improving.”

ASU junior center Garret Siler

“Coach (Metress) said you are one of the top players in our conference, so start playing like one. He told me in the second half the ball’s coming to you, so you better score.”

ASU sophomore guard/forward Ben Madgen

“I tried to be a bit more relaxed out there and let the game come to me. In the second half, we executed our offense and guys made shots.”

Official Basketball Box Score
Columbus State vs Augusta State
02/04/08 7:30 p.m. at Augusta, Ga. (Christenberry Fieldhouse)
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VISITORS: Columbus State 10-11, 6-5 PBC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
21 Morton, Miguel...... f  7-9    1-1    0-0    3  9 12   3  15  1  2  0  1  26
30 Arnold, Maurice..... f  7-9    0-0    0-0    1  1  2   3  14  0  4  3  1  26
03 Stewart, Javarus.... g  4-7    2-3    0-0    1  5  6   2  10  3  1  0  1  28
05 Matthews, Travis.... g  1-6    1-5    0-0    0  2  2   3   3  4  4  0  4  32
10 Portis, Corris...... g  4-11   3-7    1-2    1  2  3   2  12  1  2  0  1  24
11 Miller, Sean........    2-8    0-4    1-1    1  2  3   1   5  1  0  0  1  15
20 Guest, Shondre......    1-3    1-1    0-0    0  0  0   3   3  0  2  0  0  13
23 Holloway, Quay......    1-10   1-7    0-0    1  0  1   0   3  0  0  0  0  20
24 Chester, Ryan.......    0-1    0-0    0-0    0  5  5   2   0  0  1  0  0  12
55 Tarver, Jeff........    0-0    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   1   0  1  0  0  0   4
   TEAM................                         2  1  3
   Totals..............   27-64   9-28   2-3   11 27 38  20  65 11 16  3  9 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 10-28 35.7%   2nd Half: 17-36 47.2%   Game: 42.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-10 40.0%   2nd Half:  5-18 27.8%   Game: 32.1%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  2-3  66.7%   2nd Half:  0-0   0.0%   Game: 66.7%   1,1

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HOME TEAM: Augusta State 15-4, 10-2 PBC
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
01 Madgen, Ben......... f  9-17   4-8    4-4    3  3  6   0  26  3  6  0  0  40
23 Bowman, Tyrekus..... f  2-14   0-3    1-4    3  6  9   2   5  6  0  2  2  31
21 Siler, Garret....... c 11-14   0-0    3-5    4  4  8   1  25  1  0  2  0  31
02 Smith, Steve........ g  2-4    2-4    0-1    0  3  3   1   6  6  1  0  3  27
03 Howard, Demetrius... g  0-5    0-4    2-2    1  1  2   1   2  1  2  0  1  27
00 Dixon, Daniel.......    1-5    1-5    0-1    3  2  5   1   3  3  2  0  2  26
15 Ilunga, Etsho.......    0-4    0-0    0-0    1  3  4   0   0  0  0  0  0   6
24 Brown, Caleb........    0-2    0-2    0-0    0  1  1   1   0  0  0  1  0   8
33 Tambon, Luke........    0-0    0-0    1-2    1  1  2   0   1  0  1  0  0   4
   TEAM................                            2  2
   Totals..............   25-65   7-26  11-19  16 26 42   7  68 20 12  5  8 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half:  7-34 20.6%   2nd Half: 18-31 58.1%   Game: 38.5%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  0-12  0.0%   2nd Half:  7-14 50.0%   Game: 26.9%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-8  37.5%   2nd Half:  8-11 72.7%   Game: 57.9%    4

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Officials: Steve Coleman (R), Billy Dunlap (U1), Dan Stryffler (U2)
Technical fouls: Columbus State-TEAM. Augusta State-Siler, Garret.
Attendance: 921
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
Columbus State................   26   39  -   65
Augusta State.................   17   51  -   68

Points in the paint-CSU 24,ASU 24. Points off turnovers-CSU 7,ASU 17.
2nd chance points-CSU 11,ASU 8. Fast break points-CSU 8,ASU 2.
Bench points-CSU 11,ASU 4. Score tied-1 time. Lead changed-4 times.
Last FG-CSU 2nd-00:00, ASU 2nd-02:17.