The No. 3 ranked Emory University men's basketball team played its final tune up of the preseason Wednesday evening as the Eagles defeated Division II's Augusta University, 80-61, in exhibition action inside the Woodruff PE Center in Atlanta.
Four different players finished in doubles figures led by sophomore Mario Awasum's outpouring of 18 points on 8-of-12 shooting. The Eagles outscored the Jaguars 46-33 in the second half to pull away for the victory. On the evening, Emory finished 26-for-54 from the floor and won the rebounding battle 39-35.
Joining Awasum in double figures were senior Ben Pearce with 15 points, including an 8-for-13 mark from the line, and senior Jair Knight and junior Ethan Fauss who posted 14 points each. Ten of the 11 players that saw the floor registered at least one point.
The Eagles jumped out to the early advantage by scoring 15 of the game's first 19 points through the opening 6:55 and led by as many as 18 with a 28-10 margin with 7:05 remaining in the first half. Augusta battled back before the halftime break, ripping off a 15-4 run of their own, prior to the teams hitting the locker rooms with Emory in front, 34-28.
When action resumed, the Jaguars kept pace with the Eagles through the first media timeout and slashed the deficit to three with three following the timeout. Pearce and senior John Coppolino IV combined for seven of Emory's next nine points to increase the lead back to double digits with 12:26 to go.
The margin stayed within three possessions before Augusta made it a six-point game with 9:17 remaining, forcing a timeout call. A thunderous dunk by Awasum sparked a 6-0 burst for the Eagles which put them back in front by double digits and the team rode the momentum through the end of regulation, never seeing the lead dwindle back under single digits.
Emory will open the 2025-26 season officially on Sunday, November 9th with a road contest at Piedmont University. Tip off is scheduled for 2:00 PM in Demorest, GA.
