COLUMBIA, S.C. – Second-ranked Augusta University used a 12-4 run in the second half to take the lead and held on to defeat Benedict College 77-69 in a non-conference men's basketball game on Tuesday night in the Benjamin E. Mays HRC Arena.
 
The Tigers scored the first 12 points of the game and had a 34-27 lead at the half. A 3-pointer by Brandon Beidleman gave the Tigers a 39-32 lead with 17:26 left in the game. The Jags took their first lead of the game, 44-43, on a 3-pointer with 12:56 remaining. Augusta went on a 6-0 run to take a 59-52 lead. The Tigers were able to cut the lead to 59-57 on a layup by Gedeon Buzanguwith 5:17 on the clock, but that was as close as they would get.
 
Benedict falls to 2-2 on the season. Augusta, which lost in the NCAA Division II national championship game last year, improves to 4-0.
 
Brandon Smith scored 22 points to lead the Tigers, while Beidleman added 15. Malachi McCoy scored 12 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds. Augusta's 7-foot-1 center Tyshaun Crawford had 25 points, 19 coming in the second half comeback, to lead the Jags.
 
Benedict returns to action on Saturday, traveling to face Lane College in Jackson, Tenn., to open SIAC play.