On Monday, March 30, the Jaguars were welcomed back to campus at an appreciation program following their second appearance at the national Elite Eight. The Jaguars made it to the semifinals in the Division II playoffs, ending as one of the top four teams in the nation. (see ASUJaguars.com/elite8) The Jaguars earned the return trip to Springfield, Mass., and the NCAA Division II Elite Eight as they used a suffocating defense to defeat USC Aiken 85-57 at the Christenberry Field House, becoming the Tournament champion as well as the conference champion for the Peach Belt Conference. Plans were immediately made by ASU fans to make the 18 hour trip by bus to Springfield. The team received a hero’s send off during the Meet the Jags on the River on March 21 at Fat Man’s Riverfront Café. The community came out in droves to wish the team well.
It was not all about basketball for the Jags while they were in Springfield. The team also gave back to the community that had grown to love ASU and the fans that made the long trip to support the team the previous year. The Jaguars met with some of its youngest fans at a meet and greet with fourth graders at the Basketball Hall of Fame on Monday, the 23rd. On Tuesday, the team met with students at the Childrens Study Home and demonstrated some of their moves, while helping younger students make their shots (dunks).
The cheerleaders and Al E. Cat visited two elementary schools and conducted pep rallies with students who were following the Jaguars. On Wednesday, March 23, at noon was game time at the MassMutual Center with more than 3,908 fans from across the United States. Thousands more were glued to their seats in front of laptops or personal computers. More than a hundred students, faculty, and staff crowded into the Jaguar Student Activities Center ballroom to watch the game.
Staring at its largest halftime deficit of the season, Augusta State staged a massive second-half comeback rallying past Christian Brothers for a 70-62 victory in the national quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. The victory advanced the Jags to the Final Four to play Cal-Poly Pomona.
Despite rallying from an 11-point deficit with under five minutes to play, fell 74-70 to Cal-Poly Pomona in the National Semifinals of the NCAA Elite Eight. With the loss, the Jaguars’ season came to a close with a 30-5 record.
Augusta State fans chanted A-S-U during the welcome home celebration. Pride was evident as the Jags had for the second consecutive year played in the NCAA Elite Eight, posting the first 30-win season in school history.
Mar 30, 2009
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