AUGUSTA, GA – The Augusta University Jaguars got 22 points from Tyshaun Crawford and Miguel Arnold as they held off a tough Flagler Saints team to win the 2022 PBC Tournament championship 82-71 on Saturday in Augusta. With the win, the Jaguars (28-3) earn the league’s automatic bid to next week’s NCAA Tournament. AU entered the weekend ranked #1 in the southeast region and are very likely to host the regional beginning next Saturday. Flagler (23-7) was ranked #5 in the latest region poll and are all but assured of an at-large spot when the field is announced on Sunday night.
Flagler got off to a fast start on Saturday, jumping out to an 18-11 lead following two free throws from Derrick Ellis, Jr. The lead was at six with 8:39 to play with after Curtis Lewis drained a three for the Saints, but Augusta fought back, cutting the lead to one at 23-22 with two free throws from Tyree Myers.
Ellis connected on a three-pointer for the Saints to give Flagler some cushion and the lead grew back to eight with a three from Chase Fiddler with 3:05 to go in the first. Miguel Arnold answered for Augusta with back-to-back three-pointers to cut the lead to 34-32 at the half.
Augusta took the lead in the first six seconds of the second half on a Troy Cracknell three-pointer that also drew a foul and became a four-point play. The two teams would tie and change the lead four times over the next few minutes until Augusta went on a 12-2 run over a four-minute span.
The lead grew to as many as 12 with 9:53 to play when Flagler rallied with eight straight points, capped by a Jaizec Lottie three, to cut the lead to 58-54 with 8:17 left. The Saints would get to within four three more times, but no closer as Augusta had answers for each basket, building the lead back to 10 and forcing the Saints to foul late.
Tyshaun Crawford was named the tournament Most Valuable Player with his 22 point, 11-rebound effort. He also led the Jaguars with five assists and had two blocks. Arnold hit 5-for-10 three-pointers for his 22 to go with four boards and two assists as he was also named All-Tournament.
Ellis led the Saints with 17 points and eight assists while Lottie was held in check with 16. Kohl Roberts led Flagler with six rebounds.
The tournament title is the sixth all-time for Augusta, tied for the most in PBC history.
The NCAA selection show will air live on NCAA.com on Sunday at 10:30 pm. The NCAA Southeast Regional will begin next Saturday, March 12.
All-Tournament Team
Tommy Moore, Lander
Nelson Haskin, Columbus State
Derrick Ellis, Jr., Flagler
Jaizec Lottie, Flagler
Miguel Arnold, Augusta
Tournament MVP
Tyshaun Crawford, Augusta