Aussie Hoops America: Madgen, Wright & ASU Play for D-2 National Championship

Madgen, Wright & ASU Play for D-2 National Championship
www.aussiehoopsamerica.com
30 Mar 2008
SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - One day away from the biggest game in school history, the Augusta State Jaguars spent a whirlwind of a day Friday making final preparations for their national championship matchup with No. 3 Winona State in the Elite Eight at the MassMutual Center.
The contest will be broadcast live on CBS beginning at 2:30 p.m. The game will mark the first nationally-televised network contest in which ASU has ever appeared. The game will also be available on NCAA.com or www.aug.edu/athletics (5:30am SYD Sunday).
The 10th-ranked Jaguars began Friday morning with a photo shoot with CBS at the Basketball Hall of Fame, went through a 90-minute practice in the MassMutual Center before participating in a press conference just after noon. The afternoon’s activities included a rally with the ASU supporters who made the trip all the way from Augusta to the Elite Eight before returning to the Hall of Fame for a NCAA-sponsored YES youth clinic.
ASU, playing in its first national championship game of any sport, is faced with the daunting task of defeating a Winona State squad that has not only won 31 straight games this season, but has knocked off two previously undefeated teams in Grand Valley State and Bentley to advance to the national title game. The Warriors (37-1) are led by their senior frontcourt All-America tandem of center John Smith and forward Jonte Flowers.
The Jaguars, who matched the school record for wins in a season with 27 in last night’s 56-50 victory over Alaska-Anchorage, will counter with senior All-American Tyrekus “AJ” Bowman, junior All-South Atlantic Region center Garret Siler and sophomore forward Ben Madgen.
Bowman and Siler combined for 35 of ASU’s 56 points in the national semifinal victory over the Seawolves. Siler went over the 1,000-point mark for his career and currently ranks 22nd all-time in scoring at 1,013 points. Madgen stands just eight points shy of reaching the scoring milestone in only his second year in the program.
The Jaguars are 12-1 since inserting senior guard Demetrius Howard into the starting lineup on Feb. 2. ASU is 4-0 vs. nationally-ranked opponents this season and 11-3 (.786) vs. nationally-ranked foes the last four seasons under head coach Dip Metress.
Adelaide's Ben Madgen (So./F) has started 32 of 33 games this season for ASU and has averaged 15.8 points (2nd on team) and 4.8 rebounds per contest. Sydney's Tom Wright (Fr./G) has seen action in 15 games, averaging just over a point and a rebound per 6.6 minutes a game.
Game Day Update
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