Giants Get Defensive in Route over St. Augustine
-Matt Potak
The reigning ABA champion Jacksonville Giants displayed exhilarating play in a, 115-97, route of rival St. Augustine. The Giants displayed a Saturday night showcase of slam dunks, long range three pointers, and powerful defensive play that excited the fans on Saturday night. The Giants were led by incredible guard play from Maurice Mickens, Bernard Nugent and Miguel Paul, as the trio combined for 51 points. The win gives Jacksonville momentum going into their tough January schedule.
The Jacksonville Giants showcased an “ugly sweater” contest during the game. Fans who wore a Christmas themed “ugly sweater” had the opportunity to be in a drawing to win cash prizes. The fans showed excitement about the opportunities to win prizes. Jacksonville gave out three cash prizes during the game.
The first quarter was a slugfest between both teams. St. Augustine played physical and challenged the Giants early in the game. However, First year head coach Jerrod Tucker made key adjustments for Jacksonville. Following the adjustments, the Giants kept the lead and never looked back. Jacksonville opted to a more physical man to man defense, which slowed down the St. Augustine offense. Elijah Smith, Rob Hornsby, Aluk Adub, and Aaron Bowen pressured Glory shooters all night. Nugent also contributed with six steals.
Jacksonville closed out the second quarter with a 16-3 run. Mickens landed a big three pointer with Nugent and Brandon Davis also contributing. Seven Giant players scored double digit points on the night. The teams offensive tempo was hard to contain. Jacksonville went quick tempo the entire game, causing issues for the Glory.
The Giants led by 33 points late in the third quarter. However, St. Augustine made things interesting with a comeback in the fourth quarter. Christian Terrell helped lead the St. Augustine comeback, adding a team high 26 points. The Glory was able to fight back and get the deficit to 15. The Giants were able to stop the comeback attempt with Nugent, Davis, and Bowen landing big shots late in the game.
Giants vs Glory Game Notes
Players of the game:
Maurice Mickens led the team with 20 points, going 3-4 from three point land. Mickens had four assists and six rebounds.
Turning Point of Game:
Jacksonville went on a 16-3 run late in the second quarter that helped extend the halftime lead. Mickens and Davis landed back to back three pointers with the defense playing flawless.
Defensive Notes:
The Giants trio of Aaron Bowen, Rodney Walker, and Elijah Smith were tough to score on. The three kept amazing pressure on the Glory offense. Miguel Paul and Bernard Nugent also contributed.