Staff report
Behind Peach Belt Conference player of the week Elías Pálsson, the Augusta University Jaguars defeated Clayton State 82-60 on Wednesday night, Feb. 18, in Morrow, giving AU coach Dip Metress his 600th career victory in 30 years of coaching.
Metress now has a record of 600-279, with 22 seasons at AU and before that eight seasons at Belmont Abbey in North Carolina.
“Most people don’t get to coach 600 games, so I am fortunate to have great assistants, players and, most importantly, a supportive wife (Heather Metress) and daughter (Elizabeth Metress),” he said.
Metress is part of a coaching family. His brother, Brian Metress, is a highly successful coach at Lake Braddock High School in Virginia. His daughter Elizabeth is an assistant coach for the Mercer University women.
Pálsson had 20 points to lead the Jaguars, who improved to 11-17 overall and 6-12 in the Peach Belt Conference. Luis Nonfon added 17 points for the winners, and teammate Tobias Prall chipped in 15.
Augusta dominated the boards by a 47-28 margin. Daniel Daramola led AU with eight rebounds.
Charlie McBeath totaled 11 points, seven rebounds and four steals for the Jaguars, who will host Middle Georgia on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 3:30 p.m for Homecoming. It will also be senior night, with Evan Joyner being the lone senior for the Jags.
Earlier, the AU women lost a heartbreaker, 61-60, to the Laker women. Clayton State outscored AU 32-24 in the second half to pull out the narrow victory. Quinasia Abercrombie led the Jaguars (12-6, 17-8) with 23 points, but 26 turnovers doomed AU.
The women’s team will host Middle Georgoa on Feb. 21 at 1:30 p.m.
